Mongolia kicks off annual peacekeeping drill

Mongolia kicked off its annual multinational peacekeeping drill on Sunday, with an eye to boosting military-to-military interoperability on peacekeeping missions.

Military personnel from 47 countries in five continents have arrived in Tavan Tolgoi, a Mongolian military training ground about 65 kilometers away from Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia, for the military exercise code-named "Khan Quest 2016."

The drill, which focuses on peacekeeping and military-humanitarian actions and coordination, consists of four parts this year -- command post exercise, field training exercise, engineering civic action program projects and cooperative health engagement events.

The military event will run until June 4.

At the opening ceremony, Mongolian President Elbegdorj Tsakhia stressed the necessity of enhancing military coordination among different countries in helping those who fall victim to conflicts and crises.

China began to send its servicemen for the annual drill in 2015. This year, Chinese soldiers with peacekeeping experience in Africa have been dispatched to join "Khan Quest 2016", the 10th of its kind since the drill started in 2003.

Source: XINHUA