A team from the Nepal Army has departed for China to participate in the Sagarmatha Friendship exercise with the People’s Liberation Army.

This initiative aims to enhance capabilities in disaster management, humanitarian assistance, and United Nations peacekeeping missions, according to a statement from the Nepal Army Directorate of Public Relations and Information.

The exercise, scheduled to take place in Chongqing from September 21 to October 1, will focus on knowledge sharing in disaster management, counter-terrorism, and peacekeeping operations.

This marks the fourth iteration of the exercise, which began in 2017. Held annually on an alternating basis between Nepal and China, the event was paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Pacific Angel, the joint exercise between the Nepal Army and the United States Army, which began on September 15, concluded on Friday.

During the exercise, knowledge was exchanged regarding methods and procedures necessary for effective search and rescue operations, said the Nepal Army. The joint exercise took place in Kathmandu, Makawanpur, and Dhading.

Since 2012, the exercise has been conducted with the aim of enhancing disaster response capabilities through the exchange of experiences in disaster management and humanitarian assistance, the NA said.