Cambodia and the United States will hold a joint military exercise dubbed "Angkor Sentinel 2014" next week, aiming to build capacity for Cambodian armed forces and bolster bilateral military ties.

The annual exercise will last for ten days (April 21-30) at the Training Centre for Multinational Peacekeeping Forces, about 70 km west of capital Phnom Penh.

According to a schedule released by the Army Headquarters on Friday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's eldest son, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, deputy commander of the Army Headquarters, will open the exercise on Monday.

Angkor Sentinel 2014 is a major, bilateral exercise that persists with a substantial, multi-year effort by US Army Pacific and US Pacific Command to actively engage the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

It is designed to promote regional peace and security, focusing on peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance operations.

According to the National Television of Cambodia, Gen. Chan Sopheaktra, deputy commander of the Army Headquarters, said recently that the exercise would be a good opportunity to build capacity for Cambodian armed forces and close friendship relations between Cambodian and US military personnel.

"The exercise will be also a good chance for the two armies to exchange experience, tactics, techniques and expertise," he said.

The first Angkor Sentinel exercise was held in 2010. Last year's event involved over 230 Cambodian armed forces and nearly 80 US military personnel.