The opening ceremony of the “Peace and Friendship-2025” joint exercise of China and Malaysia was held in Malaysia on Wednesday, marking the official start of the nine-day drill, reported China Military Bugle, an official media account affiliated with the PLA News Media Center, on Wednesday. Representatives of participating officers and soldiers from both China and Malaysia attended the ceremony, according to the report.
At around 10 am, the ceremony commenced with the national anthems of both countries. Major General Datuk Mohamed Fauzi bin Kamis, the chief of staff, Joint Forces Headquarters of Malaysia, and Major General Dai Bin, assistant chief of staff of the PLA Southern Theater Command, delivered remarks respectively.
Datuk Mohamed Fauzi stated that this joint exercise provides a valuable platform for enhancing coordinated operational capabilities, deepening mutual understanding, and strengthening military cooperation between the two militaries. It fully demonstrates the shared commitment of China and Malaysia to promoting regional peace, security, and shared prosperity, particularly showcasing their firm resolve in addressing humanitarian crises and safeguarding maritime security.
Dai remarked that this year’s exercise is a practical measure to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of China and Malaysia on building a high-level China-Malaysia community with shared future. Dai noted that the participating troops from both sides will learn and train together, engage in in-depth exchanges and interactions, and build a bridge for mutual trust and mutual learning. This exercise, Dai added, witnesses and deepens the traditional friendship between the two countries and their militaries, as they join hands to address non-traditional security threats and inject more certainty and stability into regional peace and stability.
According to China Military Bugle, the exercise, focusing on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief （HADR）and maritime security, is a branded and institutional arrangement for international military cooperation between the Chinese and Malaysian militaries. It will be primarily conducted at the Malaysian disaster assistance and rescue camp in Puchong, Port Klang, the National Hydrographic Centre, the Subang Air Base, and the waters of the Strait of Malacca. Key activities include HADR drills, live-force maritime security exercises, and Air Force exchange seminars, reported China Military Bugle.
According to the report, over 1,000 personnel from both sides are participating, with the exercise set to conclude on October 23.
The report noted that the Chinese participating forces are primarily selected and organized from and by the Army, Navy, and Air Force of the PLA Southern Theater Command, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, and the Guilin Joint Logistic Support Center. The Malaysian side is participating with multi-service components.
Also, diverse activities such as ship open days, cultural and sports exchanges, and deck receptions will be interspersed throughout the exercise to further deepen the friendship between the two countries and their militaries.
Following the ceremony, the participating troops from both sides proceeded to their respective directions and transitioned into the exercise execution phase as planned, China Military Bugle reported.
