This photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry shows the opening ceremony for the Russian-Lao joint military exercises "Laros 2019" in Laos on Dec. 10, 2019.

The first Russian-Lao joint military exercises Laros 2019 kicked off on Tuesday at the Ban Peng training ground in Laos, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The drills to last through Dec. 19 will involve over 500 troops from both sides, the ministry said.

Russia is represented by a tank company and a combat service support unit, while Laos is represented by tank, reconnaissance, and engineering units, as well as a signal and chemical platoon.

The drills are planned to be held in three stages, and the tank units will take live-fire actions during the active phase of the event.

The exercises will contribute to the expansion of military and military-technical cooperation between Russia and Laos, including in countering international terrorism, the ministry said.