SAF and PLA Conclude COOPERATION 2010

SAF and PLA soldiers conducting vehicle and personnel inspection during COOPERATION 2010.

24 November 2010 -- The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and People's Liberation Army (PLA) have concluded their second joint counter-terrorism (CT) training exercise, COOPERATION 2010. Brigadier-General (BG) Ngien Hoon Ping, SAF Director of Joint Operations, and Major-General Yang Xuming, Deputy Chief of the Training and Arms Department of the PLA General Staff Headquarters, officiated at the closing ceremony this morning. The closing ceremony was held at the Murai Urban Training Facility and was observed by officials from both countries, including Permanent Secretary (Defence) Chiang Chie Foo and the PLA Deputy Chief of General Staff, General (GEN) Ma Xiaotian. Prior to the closing ceremony, Mr Chiang and GEN Ma also observed a response drill demonstration by the SAF-PLA Exercise Joint Task Force.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, BG Ngien noted that the joint training exercise had "provided a platform for both armed forces to better understand and cooperate with each other”. He added that “interactions such as this stand us in good stead to work together in the future, on efforts such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, should there be a need."

About 60 exercise troops each from the SAF and PLA took part in the nine-day training exercise, which focused on CT security operations, including responding to chemical and explosive threats, for major international events.

People's Liberation Army Deputy Chief of General Staff Calls on DPM Teo

General Ma Xiaotian calling on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Deputy Chief of General Staff, General (GEN) Ma Xiaotian, who is visiting Singapore from 23 to 25 Nov 2010, called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Ministry of Defence this afternoon. During their meeting, Mr Teo welcomed the progressive defence ties and military interactions between Singapore and China.

As part of his visit, GEN Ma met with Permanent Secretary (Defence) Chiang Chie Foo and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong. GEN Ma and Mr Chiang also visited the PLA and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops participating in the second SAF-PLA joint counter-terrorism (CT) training exercise, COOPERATION 2010, earlier today. During the visit, GEN Ma and Mr Chiang were briefed on the conduct of the exercise which started on 18 Nov 2010, and observed a joint response drill demonstration. They also witnessed the COOPERATION 2010 closing ceremony, which was co-officiated by the SAF Director of Joint Operations Brigadier-General Ngien Hoon Ping and the PLA Deputy Chief of the Training and Arms Department of the PLA General Staff Headquarters Major-General Yang Xuming.

GEN Ma's visit underscores the warm and growing defence relations between Singapore and China following the signing of the bilateral Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation in January 2008. The armed forces of both countries interact regularly through the exchange of visits, courses, seminars and port calls.

Mindef