The Australian government announced on Sunday that Australia will hold a combined counter-terrorism military exercise with Thailand next week as part of Australia's efforts of fighting terrorism with regional partners.

The exercise will be held in Thailand from July 5 to 9 and will involve a special recovery operation in response to a mock terrorist incident involving Australian hostage, Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Sunday in a joint statement.

"The exercise will advance Australia and Thailand's shared goal of defeating terrorism and demonstrates our willingness to work together to address this threat," said the statement.

Australia and Thailand are committed to working together to refine counter-terrorism capabilities and expertise, in keeping with the 2002 Australian-Thai Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism, the ministers said.

The exercise followed the success of the inaugural Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Conference held in Bowral, Australia's southeastern state of New South Wales, earlier this month, the ministers said.

"The Australian government places the highest possible priority on fighting terrorism at home and abroad, including with regional partners," said the statement.

Source: Xinhua