The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) adheres to the principle of being non-aligned, non-confrontational, and not directing against any third party in joint exercises and training with other countries, says a white paper on China's national defense issued Thursday.

The PLA also pursues the guidelines of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity in these exercises and training, says the white paper, which was issued by the Information Office of the State Council.

As of December 2010, the PLA had held 44 joint military training and exercises with foreign troops, which is conducive to promoting mutual trust and cooperation, drawing on useful lessons, and accelerating PLA's modernization, the white paper says.

It notes that joint counter-terrorism military exercises within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are being institutionalized.

In 2002, China ran a joint counter-terrorism military exercise with Kyrgyzstan, the first ever with a foreign country. The next year, China ran a multilateral joint counter-terrorism military exercise with other SCO members, also the country's first with foreign countries.

In 2006, China and Tajikistan held a joint counter-terrorism military exercise. China and Russia as well as other SCO members ran a series of "Peace Mission" joint counter-terrorism military exercises in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010, according to the white paper.

Meanwhile, it says the PLA's maritime joint exercises have been held on a regular basis.

In 2003, China ran a joint maritime search-and-rescue exercise with Pakistan, the first ever between China and a foreign country. During mutual port calls and other activities, the PLA Navy has run bilateral or multilateral joint maritime exercises with the navies of India, France, the UK, Australia, Thailand, the U.S., Russia, Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam.

Also, the PLA has carried out extensive joint military training on land with foreign armed forces. China held a joint army training with Thailand in 2007, the first ever with a foreign country, the white paper says.

In recent years, China has conducted joint military training with many countries, including Pakistan, India, Singapore, Mongolia, Romania and Thailand, focusing on tasks such as counter-terrorism, security and safeguarding, and mountain and amphibious operations, according to the white paper.