The fourth edition of Nepal-China joint military exercise begins in Chongqing, China on Saturday.

The platoon level training is led by captains from both sides. Under the banner of Sagarmatha Friendship, Nepal and China first held a joint military exercise in 2017.

A team of Nepal Army officials and personnel left for China on Friday, the same day the Nepal-US joint military exercise named Pacific Angel ended. The exercise between Nepali and US armies started on September 15 on the theme of effective search and rescue during a natural disaster to share knowledge and experiences, according to the Nepal Army. The joint exercise was conducted in Kathmandu, Makawanpur and Dhading districts.

The joint military exercise between the two neighbours has resumed after five years. In 2019, Nepal and China had decided to conduct a joint exercise in Nuwakot, but the plan was cancelled at the last hour due to the Covid outbreak.

As many as 20 personnel will take part in the exercise, said Nepal Army spokesman Brig Gen Gaurav Kumar KC.

Nepal Army has been taking part in various bilateral and multilateral exercises in areas of disaster management and humanitarian assistance, and United Nations peacekeeping missions. The exercise will conclude on October 1.

The Army has been conducting battalion-level exercises titled ‘Surya Kiran’ with the Indian Army for the past 18 years, engaging some 300 soldiers from both sides.

The exercise with China is conducted alternatively between the two countries.