The "Strike 2024" joint military drill between China and Thailand commenced on Tuesday in Kunming City of southwest China's Yunnan Province, focusing on joint counter-terrorism operations.
The drill, set in the background of hostage rescuing, covers mixed exercises of demolition, battlefield rescue and more. Military officials from both countries are holding high anticipations toward the drill.
"The China-Thailand 'Strike 2024' joint military drill is highly anticipated. I look forward to exchanging military knowledge and counter-terrorism experience with the Chinese side during this year's training. I wish the joint training a great success and hope that the friendship between the two armies will grow stronger," said Pakkawat, commander of the Thai side.
"The joint drill is mainly comprised of three parts: integrated unit training, counter-terrorism drills, and cultural exchanges. The highlight is the exploration of unmanned and intelligent combat, as well as discussions on manned-unmanned coordinated tactics. We hope to deepen exchanges on training methods and combat strategies of special forces, enhance joint counter-terrorism and emergency response capabilities, and further build the China-Thailand 'Strike' joint training series as a significant platform for military cooperation and exchange between two countries," said Yang Jiansong, member of command team of the Chinese side.
The drill, planned to last for 11 days, is the 7th of the "Strike" joint training series between the Chinese and Thai land forces.
China, Thailand hold joint counter-terrorism military drill
La Qiong, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and a passionate ecologist in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau, is advocating further measures to preserve the region's fragile yet vital ecosystem.
The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, also known as "the roof of the world," boasts rich biodiversity and essential water sources for several Asian nations.
The snow-capped plateau is the place La Qiong calls home.
Also serving as a lawmaker through his role as a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), China's highest organ of state power, La Qiong's suggestion during the legislative session has led to a groundbreaking law being passed in 2023, focusing on the ecological conservation of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. "The country attaches great importance to ecology and has introduced a series of laws and regulations to ensure the protection of ecology. Now, phenomena such as poaching, illegal hunting and indiscriminate logging have basically been stopped. But if we are to achieve protection on a higher-level, how do we achieve that scientifically?" he said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
At Yani Wetlands in Nyingchi , La Qiong closely monitors the wetlands' rich biodiversity and pristine landscape, while actively promoting the development of a long-term, dynamic ecological monitoring system. And he says he is committed to figuring out how to balance protection and progress.
"More and more major projects including the Sichuan-Xizang Railway are coming to Nyingchi, therefore how to protect the local ecology during the city's development has become an important issue," he said.
Given the area's rich biodiversity, La Qiong said he would bring up suggestions on conserving the unique wildlife species affected by the projects and using them to support local economic and social development at this year's legislative session.
Along with other Chinese lawmakers, he will continue to offer a Chinese solution while preserving and protecting rich natural heritage for all.
The third session of the 14th NPC is scheduled to run from March 5 to 11 in Beijing.
NPC deputy safeguards Qinghai-Xizang Plateau's ecological legacy
