The event saw the presence of Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh; Chief of the Indian Navy Admiral R. Hari Kumar; representatives from the diplomatic corps and navies of participating countries.
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Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announces the opening of MILAN 2024 exercise. |
Second-in-Command and Chief of Staff of the Naval Service of Vietnam Rear Admiral Pham Manh Hung; Vietnamese defense attaché to India; and the Vietnam People’s Navy delegation on board Ship 20 under Brigade 172, Naval Region 3 attended the opening ceremony.
Themed “Camaraderie, Cohesion, Collaboration,” the MILAN 2024 draws the participation of 47 navies in the world. The Vietnamese naval delegation is led by Senior Captain Doan Bao Anh, Second-in-Command of Naval Region 3.
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An overview of the opening ceremony of the MILAN 2024 |
In his opening remarks, Indian naval chief R. Hari Kumar expressed thanks to countries for sending ships and delegations to the MILAN 2024 exercise. He stressed that the event is a good opportunity for participating navies to gain experience, enhance friendship, mutual understanding and promote cooperation in handling global maritime issues.
This year, the MILAN exercise is taking place from February 19 to 27 on shore and in the Eastern waters of Visakhapatnam city in two phases: Harbor and sea phases.
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Delegates in a group photo |
In the harbor phase, the Vietnamese delegation and Ship 20 will take part in such activities as exchange of expertise, meetings to make seafaring plans, maritime seminar, young officers exchange, street parade, and cultural and sport exchanges.
In the sea phase, Vietnam’s Ship 20 belongs to Tactical Group 3 and will perform tasks such as maneuvering in formation, communication activities, rescuing people falling into the water, approaching and checking suspicious ships, supply at sea, and building up formation for aerial photography.
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Rear Admiral Pham Manh Hung (second from left) meets with other delegates at the MILAN cultural village. |
In the evening the same day, a maritime technology expo and MILAN cultural village, two events in the framework of the ongoing MILAN 2024, opened in the port city. Earlier, participating naval troops had sport exchanges to strengthen their friendship and mutual understanding.
On the morning of February 21, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy call on the leadership of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet.
Reported by Vu Hung from Visakhapatnam, India
Translated by Mai Huong