CRI听力:China Joins US-Thailand Cobra Gold Military Drills

Chinese troops have made their debut at the US-Thailand led multilateral military exercise Cobra Gold 2014 in Thailand.

The seventeen-strong Chinese squad has taken part in operations at the command and coordination center, helped with medical aid and engineering, and participated in discussions.

A handover ceremony was held on Tuesday to mark the successful assistance of the Chinese troops.

The ceremony was attended by the Chinese ambassador to Thailand, Ning Fukui, US ambassador Kristie Kenny, and several Thai high officials.

Master Sergeant James Musnicki, cooperative health engagement planner from the US Army, praised the Chinese military engineers' skills and hardworking spirit.

"China provided us specialists and experts in actual fields that we needed. And then, we also got on well with them, and we also made friends. So that's very important. We look forward to work with them next year too."

Yang Bin, medical staff member from the Chinese troop, says that the most prominent characteristic of this drill is that it breaks international boundaries and takes the form of a mixed team.

The drill involves about 4,000 Thai solders and 9,000 US soldiers.

Troops from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia have also joined the drill, and 11 other countries have also sent military officers to observe the exercises.

The operation runs until February 23.