Reporter: Could you please clarify the purposes and significance of the participation of Frigate 015 - Tran Hung Dao in these events?
Senior Colonel Le Hong Chien: The Ministry of National Defense and the Vietnam People’s Navy sent Frigate 015 - Tran Hung Dao to these events is to realize the defense relations policy of the Party, State, and military. This helps our navy build up and foster friendship, cooperation and confidence with navies and militaries of other countries, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, and China, as well as contributes to maintaining an environment of stability and peace for the region and firmly protecting the country’s national maritime sovereignty. The visit to Yokosuka naval base in Japan aimed to realize the contents agreed by senior leaders of the two countries on the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations and to implement the joint vision statement on defense cooperation for the upcoming decade signed by the two ministries of defense.
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Frigate 015 - Tran Hung Dao of the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) |
So far, the frigate has safely covered a distance of 2,500 nautical miles to Japan. The voyage serves as a long-time and long-distance maritime training session, helping assess crew-members’ abilities of organization, command and combat, and skills to handle weapons and equipment. In the coming time, when joining the fleet review in the Republic of Korea and the ASEAN-China FTX, the crew-members will have more chance to gain experience in joining international exchange and carrying out international integration of the VPN. This voyage really helps prove the capacity of the VPN ships to operate in distant waters and the defense power of Vietnam.
Reporter: This is the first time that the frigate has been engaged in a long-time and long-distance voyage. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the voyage?
Senior Colonel Le Hong Chien: During the preparation and implementation of the voyage, the troops of the frigate received due care and close directions from the Ministry of National Defense, the VPN, relevant agencies as well as the effective instructions from the Naval Region 4 Command. Naval Brigade 162 with high determination also made great efforts to best fulfill the mission. Accordingly, troops of the frigate had a comprehensive preparation for the voyage, including technical maintenance, weapon and equipment inspection, training in line with the contents of the fleet review and the ASEAN-China FTX, and communication, logistic, and technical services for the long-time operation at sea.
Reporter: Could you please point out the contribution of this voyage to the defense relations prospect in the coming time?
Senior Colonel Le Hong Chien: The Vietnam People’s Army and the VPN will continue implementing the foreign policy of the Party and State, actively implementing international integration, strengthening and developing friendship and cooperation with other countries. We will send more ships to international events and exchange high-ranking delegations to learn more from other navies, helping strengthen mutual understanding and confidence, building political trust, contributing to maintaining stability and peace in regional and global waters. We will also continue to welcome naval ships from other countries for exchanges with the VPN, so as to further promote the image and role of the VPN among international friends.
Reporter: What is the message that the VPN wants to send via the voyage?
Senior Colonel Le Hong Chien: Via the voyage, the Vietnamese navy would like to send a message to world that Vietnam wants to and is willing to be a reliable friend of all countries in the world, on the basis of mutual respect for national independence, sovereignty, equality and mutual benefits. The voyage will contribute to cementing solidarity, friendship and mutual understanding between Vietnam and other countries.
Reporter: Thank you very much!
Reported by Tuan Anh - Duy Khanh
Translated by Huu Duong