Training session strengthens ties

China and Indonesia pledged to cooperate more and take steps to strengthen the ties between their two militaries, a high-level military official said on Sunday while announcing the conclusion of a two-week counterterrorism training session.

It was the second time the countries had held such exercise.

Special forces from the PLA and Indonesian National Defense Forces simulate a hostage rescue in Jinan, Shandong province, on Sunday. Yang Hongwu / for China Daily

Special forces from China and Indonesia shake hands and exchange badges. Qin Zhongwei / China Daily

"The 2012 training, a milestone for the two militaries, will further strengthen our communications and broaden our vision for the future," Zhao Zongqi, chief-of-staff of the Jinan Military Command of the People's Liberation Army, said in Jinan, East China's Shandong province.

Special forces from the PLA and Indonesian National Defense Forces took part in the session, which was named "Sharp Knife - 2012" and was deemed a "Special Force Counter-Terrorism Joint Training". More than 70 commanders and soldiers from each country attended the event, which started on July 3, and were trained in shooting, blockading and seizing tactics and other skills.

Besides field exercises and simulated hostage rescues, the session this year also included training in the use of advanced technology.

A system used to simulate combat indoors relied on laser sensors and an automatic scoring system to help trainees pretend they were in the midst of a real conflict.

The drills are to play a significant role in the two countries' future cooperation, in their work to fight terrorism, provide relief from natural disasters and combat cross-border crimes, Indonesian Major General Dedi Kusnadi Thamim said.

He said he hopes the cooperation and training exercises will be expanded and applied to the two countries' air and naval forces.

Xinhua contributed to this story.