The opening of the joint table top exercise (TTX), named "Peace and Friendship 2014", between the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) was held here Monday at the Malaysian Armed Forces Joint Warfare Center.

This is the first time for the two sides to host the joint TTX.

During the exercise, the two sides will focus on subjects such as combined joint escort, combined joint search and rescue, combined joint rescue of hijacked vessel and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), etc.

The two sides will also communicate on the mechanisms and experiences on the involvement of military in the actions of HADR.

The exercise is expected to come to an end on December 26.

During the opening, the two sides agreed that this joint TTX is an important move to materialize the consensus reached by the high- ranks of the two armies and celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

It is also an important milestone for the friendly communication and pragmatic cooperation between the two sides, which is attached great importance by the high-ranks of the two armies.

The joint TTX is believed to further promote the understanding and mutual trust between the two sides, enrich the China-Malaysia all-round strategic partnership, improve the capacity of the two sides in jointly handling challenges and enhance the regional security and stability.

Chief of Malaysian Armed Forces Zulkifeli Mohd. Zin attended the opening and met with the participants from the two sides in the joint TTX, which involves 22 personnel from MAF and 21 from PLA.