The Chinese taskforce participating in the Peace and Friendship 2025 joint exercise holds a departure ceremony on October 8.

BEIJING, Oct. 9 -- According to the annual military cooperation plan, the Chinese and Malaysian armed forces will conduct the "Peace and Friendship 2025" joint exercise in Malaysia and its adjacent waters from October 15 to 23. On the morning of Wednesday, the Chinese multi-service forces participating in the joint exercise composed of more than 700 troops from the Army, Navy, and Air Force of the PLA Southern Theater Command, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, and the PLA Joint Logistic Support Force, set out for Malaysia via sea transport after a departure ceremony.

The joint exercise will focus on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and maritime security. Some ASEAN countries have been invited to send representatives to observe the joint exercise. The Chinese and Malaysian militaries sent a total of more than 1,000 troops to the joint exercise, and over 500 sets/pieces of weapons and equipment, including wheeled vehicles, surface vessels, helicopters, uncrewed equipment. During the joint exercise, cultural exchanges, open ship day activities, and other activities will also be held.

It is learned that the event marks the sixth edition of the "Peace and Friendship" series of joint exercises, aiming to deepen pragmatic cooperation between the militaries of China and Southeast Asian countries, enhancing their capabilities in jointly addressing non-traditional security threats, and safeguarding regional peace and stability. The Peace and Friendship joint exercises, initiated by China and Malaysia, have become a brand of joint exercise with significant influence in the region.

The Chinese taskforce participating in the Peace and Friendship 2025 joint exercise holds a departure ceremony on October 8.