By Fan Yongqiang and Cai Pengcheng
The returning vehicles wait for the inspection at the Manzhouli Port on September 16. (Photo by Yang Zai)
BEIJING, Sept. 17 (ChinaMil)—The Chinese participating troops began withdrawal from the Tsugol training range in Russia’s Trans-Baikal Region and returned to China on early Saturday morning after successfully completing the "Vostok-2018" strategic military exercise.
According to the consensus reached by China and Russia, Chinese troops went to Russia to participate in the "Vostok-2018" strategic military exercise from mid-August. The exercise was the largest strategic exercise organized by the Russian military in recent years. It was also the first time that China had sent such a large group of troops to attend a military exercise held by a foreign country.
During the exercise, the Chinese officers and soldiers successfully completed commanding exercise, operations by actual troops, and military parade, demonstrating the determination of the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries and the two militaries and showing the tenacious fighting style of the Chinese armed forces.
The outstanding performance of Chinese participating officers and soldiers was highly praised by their Russian counterparts.
It is reported that after completing the cross-border withdrawal, the PLA Northern Theater Command, who had sent troops to participate in the "Vostok-2018" exercise on behalf of the Chinese military, would draw lessons from aspects including planning and decision-making, coordination and contact, cross-border force projection, joint operations, and comprehensive support, so as to effectively enhance the troops' capabilities of overseas joint operations and actual combat.
Chinese and Russian officials discuss railway loading issues on September 15. (Photo by Yang Zai)