China and the United States started a joint humanitarian aid and disaster relief drill on November 16 in southwest China's Kunming City.

The three-day drill involves 134 military personnel from China and 89 from the United States, employing helicopters, pontoon bridges and engineering and medical aid equipment.

The drill will simulate a joint rescue mission in response to a strong earthquake in a fictional plateau country. They will also conduct a tabletop exercise focusing on sharing information and joint decision-making, as well as field maneuvers focusing on evacuation of victims, and search and rescue of survivors.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command and the U.S. Army Pacific will send delegations to observe and instruct the drill. Forty military officers from 24 countries will also observe the drill.

The drill is the fourth of its kind between China and the United States since 2013.

(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2016)