WEIFANG, Shandong Province: Defence ministers of China and Russia yesterday declared their first-ever joint military exercises a resounding success.

The eight-day manoeuvres wrapped up yesterday with the launching of an 81-minute forced isolation drill at the Weibei firing range in Shandong Province.

At 11:00 am, two strategic missile carrying Tu-95MS jets flew to the drill zone after a four-and-half hour flight from their Russian airbase. An A-50 early warning aircraft then established an airborne command centre directing war planes taking part in the operation.

Four Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, also flying in from their Russian airbase, launched attacks on 'enemy' positions 7 minutes later.

A total of 18 jet fighters in nine batches launched air strikes on "enemy troops," their "central command" and "defences."

The joint artilleries rained hundreds of shells onto the frontline and other targets deep in enemy territory. Bombs carrying propaganda leaflets were also fired onto enemy positions in a psychological tactic to shake the enemy's will.

A total of four Russian Il-76 cargo jets and four similar Chinese cargo jets dropped 24 combat vehicles onto the battlefield.

Chinese and Russian airborne units then parachuted 86 troops into the fray.

Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan and his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov watched the drill and attended the closing ceremony, as well as lunching with soldiers from the two armies and inspecting a parade of troops taking part in the exercise.

The eight-day exercise, dubbed "Peace Mission 2005," began on August 18 in the Russian port of Vladivostok and shifted on Saturday to China.

The two armies carried out a maritime blockade drill on Tuesday and launched an amphibious landing on Wednesday.

Speaking to the press at the conclusion of the manoeuvres, the Chinese and Russian defence ministers reiterated that the drill neither targeted any third party or hurt the interests of any other country.

Cao said the joint military exercises have increased the ability of the two armies to deal with new threats and struck at terrorism, extremism and separatism.

The joint drills improved the strategic co-operative partnership between China and Russia, said Cao, adding that bilateral defence co-operation will deepen in the future.

Ivanov said that co-ordination between air forces, navies, land forces, airborne troops and marine corps had shown a high degree of tactical expertise.

"That such large-scale exercises are taking place demonstrates that our military co-operation is at a high level," he said.

Ivanov said the two countries will hold more joint military exercise in the future.

Cao, also vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission, said the Shanghai Co-operation Organization is playing an increasing role in maintaining peace and stability and pushing economic development in the region.