FORTY-FIVE Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) troops left the country on Friday to participate in a mutlinational peacekeeping training exercise in Mongolia, with the aim of improving the army's peace support operations.

Suong Khunny, deputy director of the RCAF's National Centre for Peacekeeping Force, Mine and ERW Clearance, said that this is the second time Cambodian soldiers have taken part in the Khaan Quest exercise.

"The goal of the course is to train participants to better support their respective nations' peace operations around the globe," he said Sunday.

"This time we are conducting field exercises, such as manning checkpoints, escorting envoys, disarming and humanitarian training."

Suong Khunny said that RCAF soldiers had also participated in multinational peacekeeping exercises in Bangladesh and Indonesia since 2007.

"We have participated in humanitarian land-mine clearing in Sudan and expect to have more roles in UN peacekeeping operations," he said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said that joining in peacekeeping exercises was one of the government's strategies for increasing international cooperation.

More than 700 military personnel from Mongolia, India, the US and South Korea are also participating in Khaan Quest, which runs August 3-26.