Special forces from China and Saudi Arabia have held their first joint anti-terrorism drills, state media reported on Thursday, China’s latest effort to expand security ties with countries in the Middle East and its Muslim neighbors.

President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia early this year, vowing to expand security cooperation and oppose terrorism.

Twenty-five people from each side took part in training over two weeks from Oct. 10 focused on anti-terrorism combat skills and tactics near China’s southwestern city of Chongqing, the People’s Liberation Army Daily said.

“This joint anti-terrorism training is directed at raising the two militaries’ ability to combat terrorism and non-traditional security threats,” the paper said.

In the face of such threats, China in August set up an anti-terrorism alliance with neighbors Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, which all border Xinjiang.

From Oct. 20 to Oct. 24, more than 400 troops from China and Tajikistan held joint anti-terrorism drills along the remote mountainous Tajik border with Afghanistan, Chinese media reported on Tuesday.

Afghan officials observed the exercises, which included hostage rescue and combat training.

Source: Reuters