Khaan Quest 2009 begins at Ulan Bator

www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-15 21:41:13

ULAN BATOR, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A training exercise hosted by Mongolia and aimed at improving U.N. peacekeeping operations opened Saturday morning in the west of the Mongolian capital. Mongolian president Tsakhya Elbegdorg addresses the openning ceremony of Khan Quest 2009 joint military exercise at Mongolian Force Training Center, 65 kilometres west of Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator, Aug. 15, 2009.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> More than 700 armed forces personnel from Mongolia, India, the United States, South Korea and Cambodia are participating in the multinational peacekeeping training exercise, Khaan Quest 2009. The 10-day exercise will involve drillmasters' training and field exercise, with the field exercise aimed at improving the experience and tactics used in U.N. peacekeeping operations, according to Mongolia's Defense Ministry. Mongolian president Tsakhya Elbegdorg inspects the guards of honor at the openning ceremony of Khan Quest 2009 joint military exercise at Mongolian Force Training Center, 65 kilometres west of Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator, Aug. 15, 2009.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> Mongolia's president, Tsakhia Elbegdorj, said at Saturday's opening ceremony that the exercise would enhance the mutual trust among the countries and advance the capability of their peacekeeping soldiers. Tserendejid Byambajav, the chief of staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces, said Mongolia would continue to contribute to peacekeeping operations under the U.N.'s mandate and hoped to advance the capability of Mongolia's armed forces. Khaan Quest began in 2003 as a bilateral exercise between Mongolia and the United States. It became a multinational exercise in 2006.

Editor: Li