Jakarta – The Indonesian Army Special Forces (Kopassus) is currently conducting a two-week joint training exercise with the Australian Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) in the Pulau Seribu regency situated north of Jakarta, reports China's news agency Xinhua.

Members of the special forces from both countries will take part in exercises, including live fire training and marine terrorism prevention.

Kopassus commander Maj. Gen. Lodewijk F. Paulus officially opened the joint exercise on Tuesday at the Kopassus headquarters in Cijantung of Jakarta.

The exercise is hoped to encourage exchange of knowledge between the two delegations and improve cooperation between both countries, he said.

"It also aims to improve the forces' abilities and skills in personal and group fighting techniques and tactics," he said. He added that Indonesian and Australian forces had been carrying out joint exercises since 1992.