BEIJING -- Four contests of the International Army Games 2018 kicked off Sunday in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and East China's Fujian Province.

A total of 17 teams with 358 soldiers from 10 countries, including China, Belarus, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Russia, Venezuela and Zimbabwe, are participating the event that will conclude on Aug 11.

Some other countries including Armenia and India have sent observers to the events.

Three of the contests, "Suvorov Attack," "Clear Sky" and "Safe Route", take place in Korla in Xinjiang.

It is the first time for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Ground Force to host the "Safe Route" contest, which contains several stages such as traversing minefields and assembling mechanized bridges and involves forces from China, Pakistan, Russia and Uzbekistan.

Teams of marine corps from China, Iran, Russia and Venezuela will compete in Quanzhou, Fujian for the "Seaborne Assault" contest, hosted by the PLA Navy for the first time.

The International Army Games, initiated by the Russian Ministry of Defense, is co-organized by China, Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Iran this year.

China has taken part in the games for five years, and started to host some of contests last year.