Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said in Qingdao in east China��s Shandong Province on August 26 the use of long-range strategic bombers in the first Sino-Russian military exercises did not mean nuclear weapons would be used.

"Some people think to use long-range strategic bombers means to use nuclear weapons, this is not right," said Ivanov at a press conference after the military exercises came to conclusion on Thursday.

Ivanov make the remarks in response to a question on whether there was any need to use such weaponry as strategic bombers in the exercises aimed at fighting terrorism.

"The two militaries of Russia and China both attach great importance to military modernization, therefore, they agreed to use relatively advanced weaponry," said Ivanov.

The Tu-95MS and Tu-160 long-range strategic bombers can carry non-nuclear weapons and other sophisticated, high-grade precision weapons, which are quite suitable for fighting terrorism, Ivanov said.

The first Sino-Russian joint military exercises, dubbed "Peace Mission 2005", ended on Thursday in east China's Shandong Peninsula, with nearly 10,000 troops involved.

Source: Xinhua