PANO - Two Vietnamese naval ships, HQ375 and HQ376, anchored at the port city of Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China, have started a friendly visit to and exchange with China People’s Liberation Army Navy on June 21st.
That was the second visit of Vietnam People’s Navy to China since 2009 to promote the neighbourly and friendly cooperation as well as the mutual understanding and trust which exists between the two armies and navies.
Earlier, ships from China People’s Liberation Army Navy visited Hai Phong City in December 2009 and Da Nang City in November 2010.
The Vietnamese delegation was received at the port by Major-General Zhang Wendan, the Deputy-Chief-of-Staff of the Nanhai Fleet, as well as Colonel Hua Xiaoping, the Deputy-Chief of the Nanhai Fleet High Command Secretariat.
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| Leaders from Nanhai Fleet welcome Vietnamese naval delegation at Zhanjiang port |
The Vietnam People’s Navy delegation, led by Deputy-Chief-of-the-Naval Staff, Colonel Nguyen Van Kiem, also paid a courtesy visit to the Nanhai Fleet High Command.
At the reception, the Nanhai Fleet’s Rear-Admiral Yao Zhilou warmly welcomed the delegation’s visit to China after its 11th successful joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin.
The Rear-Admiral stressed that the joint patrol featured not only the friendship between the two countries, but also the contributions to bringing the cooperation and mutual understanding of the two navies to a new height.
He also highly appreciated the latest joint patrol in the Tonkin Gulf and the bilateral cooperation in search-and-rescue as well as information exchange.
China People’s Liberation Army Navy wished to the two navies to carry out more practical activities to consolidate and promote the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and China. Regarding issues in the East Sea, the Rear-Admiral said that the two countries’ armies and navies should contribute to the stability in the region.
On behalf of Vietnam People’s Navy delegation, Colonel Kiem expressed gratitude for the warm reception and the sentiments accorded by Nanhai Fleet’s troops to Vietnamese troops.
Colonel Kiem affirmed that Vietnam and China are two neighbouring countries with lots of similarities in history, culture and politics. Besides, the time-honoured friendship between the two countries has been fostered and consolidated by the two countries’ Parties, States, Armies and Navies. The Party, the State, army and people of Vietnam could not forget the physical and spiritual support to Vietnam given by the Party, the State, army and people of China in both wartime and in peace.
Colonel Kiem stressed that “Vietnam People’s Army and Navy has always paid much attention to and wish to promote the friendship and cooperation with China People’s Liberation Army and Liberation Army Navy. This is in implementation of policies and guidelines approved by the top leaders of the two countries”.
Colonel Kiem said the joint patrols, exercises and exchange visits have created good conditions for the troops of the two navies’ to learn from each other, so as to strengthen the mutual understanding and trust as well as to enhance the capacity in coping with non-traditional security challenges, contributing to upholding security and order at sea.
Later, in the afternoon, the Vietnam People’s Navy delegation paid a courtesy visit to the authorities of Zhanjiang City and took part in a reception hosted by Nanhai Fleet High Command.
Reported by Dinh Xuan
Translated by Mai Huong