BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will hold the "Peace Mission 2018" joint military drill in Russia in the latter half of this year, Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said Thursday.

"As an important area of cooperation for the SCO, defense and security cooperation has been smooth and effective in recent years," Ren told a press conference.

China is willing to continue to engage in exchanges and cooperation in defense and security cooperation with SCO member countries on the basis of mutual trust and benefit, and improve capacity to jointly cope with new challenges and threats, Ren said.