BISHKEK, September 12. /TASS/. Russian military units have arrived in Kyrgyzstan to take part in the upcoming drills of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries dubbed "Peaceful Mission-2016," the information department of Kyrgyzstan’s General Staff told TASS on Monday.

According to the information department, the solemn ceremony of greeting Russian servicemen took place on the territory of one of Kyrgyzstan’s military units. "Russians arrived to the country with their own military equipment. We also expect contingents from Kazakhstan, China and Tajikistan to arrive in the next two days," the General Staff noted.

Joint anti-terrorist drills of SCO member countries will be held on September 15-21 at the Edelveis training range in the mountainous Issyk-Kul Region. "The aim of the drills is to practice coordination of between the leaders of the armed forces of SCO member countries when preparing and carrying out a joint anti-terrorist operation, to increase the readiness of the leadership, forces and means of SCO member countries in the fight against terrorism, extremism and separatism, as well as to improve the experience of joint preparation of the United Group of Forces of SCO countries in the conditions of a mountainous area," the General Staff explained.

Among members of SCO are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.