MOSCOW, November 29. /TASS/. An official ceremony was held in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to open the Laros 2022 joint Russian-Laotian counter-terror drills involving armored, motorized infantry and reinforcement units of Russia’s Eastern Military District and the republic’s army, the District’s press office reported on Tuesday.

"Annual drills are held under the motto of ‘Shoulder to Shoulder for Peace and Security,’" the press office said in a statement.

The counter-terror exercise opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the military command of the Eastern Military District, the leadership of the Lao General Staff and the personnel of motorized infantry and armored units of both states. Headquarters generals and officers wished the participants in the drills success and skillful operations during all the stages of the scheduled measures, it said.

"The aim of the Laros 2022 joint drills is to develop friendship between two fraternal peoples and the armed forces of both states. Military cooperation helps improve the defense potential of both countries," Deputy Chief of the Lao General Staff Lieutenant-General Phanseng Bunphan said.

On Russia’s behalf, senior officer of the Eastern Military District’s operational group Major-General Vladimir Kulikov addressed participants and guests in the drills. "These joint drills have become a traditional exercise. For the third time now, our units will practice traditional operations in single combat formations to conduct a counter-terror exercise under the motto of "Shoulder to Shoulder for Peace and Security," the general said.

After the end of the opening ceremony, the personnel of armored, motorized infantry and reinforcement units conducted a march on T-72BMS tanks to the area of the counter-terror drills.