A Chinese special contingent made up of 115 marine officers arrived?in?Sattahip Tuesday to?participate in?a joint military drill code-named "Blue Strike 2010" with Thai troops.

Chinese soldiers is flying to participate in a joint military drill code-named "Blue Strike 2010" with Thai troops.

It is the first time that Chinese marines go abroad to conduct joint exercises with foreign forces.

Soldiers of the first division of the Thai Marines held a welcome ceremony for the visiting Chinese marines at the airport and presented them with traditional Thai floral garlands.

Gao Dong, a commanding officer of the Chinese side, said that the participating Chinese troops have brought with them light weapons, underwater combat equipment, plus amphibious reconnaissance and anti-terror apparatus.

In the next two weeks, troops of the two countries will carry out various activities such as skill demonstrations, mixed training, comprehensive exercises, joint research and exchanges, said Gao.

The military maneuver will formally kick off at Sattahip Naval Base on the eastern Thai coast on Thursday.