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A welcome ceremony held for the Vietnamese delegation |
A solemn welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation was hosted by Rear Admiral Agapito B. Bibat, Commander of the Central Visayas Region of the Philippine Coast Guard with the participation of representatives from local authorities, relevant agencies, and Vietnam’s Defense Attaché to the Philippines, Senior Colonel Luong Van Manh.
In his remarks, Rear Admiral Bibat expressed his pleasure in welcoming Maj. Gen. Tran Quang Tuan and the Vietnamese delegation, emphasizing that the visit offered an opportunity for the Philippine Coast Guard to convey beautiful messages and images of the country and people of the Philippines to the Vietnamese in general and Vietnam Coast Guard officers and soldiers in particular. He noted that such exchanges strengthen trust and cooperation between the two maritime law enforcement forces, contributing to maintaining security, order, and safety across regional waters.
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Maj. Gen. Tran Quang Tuan speaks at the event. |
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A view of the welcome ceremony |
The head of the Vietnamese delegation expressed his sincere appreciation for the warm reception extended by the host. He recalled important milestones in the relationship between the two forces, highlighting that this was the second visit of Ship CSB 8002 to the Philippines. Built on the success of the ship’s visit to Manila in August 2024 and the visit of the Philippine Coast Guard vessel Gabriela Silang to Vietnam in April 2025, this trip to Cebu is to further actualize the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two sides in January 2024 in the presence of the Presidents of Vietnam and the Philippines.
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Rear Admiral Agapito B Bibat tours the ship. |
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After the welcome ceremony, a meeting held to agree on activities |
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Maj. Gen. Tran Quang Tuan and the Vietnamese delegation paying a courtesy call on leaders of Central Visayas Region |
He underscored that the visit is not only a continuation of ongoing, practical cooperation programs, but also a vivid reflection of the close friendship and trust between the two forces. It provides an opportunity for both sides to exchange experience, share knowledge, and strengthen solidarity and mutual understanding, thus consolidating the friendship between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard. It also allows officers and sailors to exchange, learn from each other, and improve their capabilities in maritime law enforcement. Immediately after the ceremony, Rear Admiral Bibat and Philippine Coast Guard personnel toured Ship CSB 8002.
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The guest paying a courtesy call on Mayor of Cebu City |
Continuing the visit, on the afternoon of October 6, the Vietnamese delegation paid courtesy calls on leaders of Cebu City and the Central Visayas Region. During the meetings, General Tuan expressed his delight at visiting the beautiful and hospitable city of Cebu and appreciation for its socio-economic, security, and defense achievements, as well as those of the Philippines as a whole.
He emphasized that the visit of Ship CSB 8002 and the Vietnamese Coast Guard delegation carries great significance, as it reflects the two sides’ determination to deepen cooperation and coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam – Philippines Strategic Partnership (2015–2025) and toward the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1976–2026).
Through this visit, both forces aim to enhance mutual understanding and trust, exchange experience, and strengthen coordination in addressing traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges, thereby promoting cooperation and development between the two sides.
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The guest paying a courtesy call on the city's leader |
Leaders of Cebu City and the Central Visayas Region warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed their appreciation for the visit of Ship CSB 8002. They conveyed hope that this visit would further strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two forces and deepen the friendship among localities of the Philippines and Vietnam, contributing to the broader development of bilateral ties between the two countries.
By Chu Anh (from Cebu city, the Philippines)
Translated by Tran Hoai