By Meng Xiaofeng and Fu Yu

Chinese and Singaporean soldiers participate in the opening ceremony of the China-Singapore Exercise Cooperation-2024 joint army training on November 19, 2024. (Photo by Jiang Zhengwang)

ZHENGZHOU, Nov. 20 -- The China-Singapore Exercise Cooperation-2024 joint army training kicked off on Tuesday at a training base in central China's Henan Province. It marks the sixth event of the Exercise Cooperation joint army training series held by the two armies.

Under the theme of "urban joint counter-terrorism operations", the joint training will explore and practice joint counter-terrorism operations in complex environments. It aims to strengthen the joint command, coordination and unified actions between the two militaries. Troops from the two sides will be mix-grouped to conduct basic training subjects, live-fire shooting and comprehensive live drills, among others.

According to the Chinese commanding officer, the joint training aims to improve  the combat capabilities, enhance exchanges and mutual learning and deepen traditional friendship, so as to contribute to the development of the relations between the two countries. The Singaporean commanding officer said that the Singaporean side is willing to join the Chinese side to carry forward traditional friendship, increase the quality and effectiveness of the joint training, deepen military mutual trust, and further promote the sound and steady development of military-to-military relations.

Chinese (right) and Singaporean (left) soldiers shake hands in the China-Singapore Exercise Cooperation-2024 joint army training on November 19, 2024. (Photo by Jiang Zhengwang)

A Chinese soldier experiences Singaporean army's Ultimax 100 machine gun in the phase of weapon and equipment demonstration in the China-Singapore Exercise Cooperation-2024 joint army training on November 19, 2024. (Photo by Jiang Zhengwang)