This is the eighth time in eleven years that this event has taken place in Vietnam. This year's events in Khanh Hoa include personnel from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. Sailors and crew from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s destroyers J.S. Izumo and J.S. Sazanami will also join mission personnel for the Khanh Hoa mission stop.
Captain Chien being welcomed by Khanh Hoa People’s Committee Department of Foreign Affairs Director Nguyen Quoc Tram and other Vietnamese representatives
The Government of Vietnam approved Khanh Hoa province as a destination for Pacific Partnership, and the province collaborated with central government agencies and Pacific Partnership planners to organize the week and a half event, with the aim of enhancing humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HA/DR) and to promote the comprehensive partnership between the United States and Vietnam as well as collaboration among partner countries.
Rear Admiral Goka, Captain Chien, Khanh Hoa People’s Committee Department of Foreign Affairs Director Nguyen Quoc Tram, and U.S. Consul General Mary Tarnowka celebrate the opening of PP17 in Khanh Hoa
"We are especially excited to be working with our friends in Khanh Hoa during Pacific Partnership's second visit to the province. I anticipate robust interaction working alongside our Vietnamese counterparts while conducting engineering projects at schools and clinics and medical exchanges," said Captain Stanfield Chien, PP17 mission commander. "Our time here is about building relationships and the capability and capacity to work together in the future and join in community engagement activities."
Vietnamese People’s Navy hospital ship Khanh Hoa-01 docks at Cam Ranh International port for PP17
In a continuation of the crisis management and response activities from PP16, Vietnamese and PP17 personnel will conduct a HA/DR Symposium and Subject Matter Expertise Exchanges, provide training for Nha Trang city’s life guards, complete renovations of the Hoa Mi and Son Ca Kindergartens, and complete the delivery and installation of solar water heaters for the medical assistance facility located in the vicinity of Nha Trang. Also, the Seventh Fleet Band will perform at Yen Sao Park as well as Thanh Nien Park, and PP17 personnel will have a music performance at the Phan Chu Trinh Secondary School.
USNS Fall River and JS Izumo arriving in Cam Ranh International Port
JS Sazanami docks in Cam Ranh International Port
“After several very productive days in Da Nang, we’re glad to see Pacific Partnership 17 cooperation continue in Khanh Hoa. These activities will improve collective capacity and regional cooperation to respond to a disaster. Another very important part of Pacific Partnership is the high-level medical cooperation and knowledge exchange, thanks to over sixty international medical experts,” said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius.
PP17 recently concluded a mission stop in Da Nang, Vietnam earlier this week.
Reported by Hoang Bac