ULAN BATOR, June 13 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,400 peacekeepers from 26 countries will participate in an annual multinational peacekeeping exercise to be held from June 14 to 28 near the Mongolian capital, the Armed Forces of Mongolia said on Wednesday.

"The peacekeepers from 26 countries, including Mongolia, the United States, China, Russia, German, Bhutan and Qatar will participate in the 15th edition of military exercise," Sainbold Uuganbayar, a spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Mongolia told reporters.

"It is the first time for Bhutan and Qatar to take part in the exercise," he added.

Code-named "Khaan Quest 2018," the exercise will be held at Five Hills Training Area, and includes a command post exercise, field training exercise and water patrol.

The peacekeeping exercise was launched in 2003 by the Armed Forces of Mongolia in cooperation with the then U.S. Pacific Command and a U.N. peace support fund. It expanded to a multinational drill in 2006.