SCO to strengthen defense cooperation

BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is to hold a defense chiefs' meeting, an anti-terror drill and a military band festival.

Wu Qian, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, told a press conference that in 2018 China will host a meeting of SCO defense ministers and the military band festival while Russia will host the "Peace Mission 2018" anti-terror war game.

Wu said the agenda was decided at a meeting of SCO defense ministry officials in Beijing in January. India and Pakistan, two new members, sent delegates and expressed keen interest in taking part in activities, Wu said.

The SCO has eight full members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and India.