The exercise will take place from December 11 to 19, with the participation of 577 officers, including 45 officers from medical and engineering corps of each military, lecturers, communication officers, and support staff.
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An overview of the opening of VINBAX 2023 |
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Senior Colonel Pham Manh Thang speaking at the event |
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations Senior Colonel Pham Manh Thang emphasized that the VINBAX 2023 holds practical significance, contributing to consolidating Vietnam - India friendship and solidarity and boosting the bilateral defense ties within the framework of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Colonel Aseem Gupta, head of the Indian delegation, said that VINBAX 2023 focuses on the content of deploying engineering and medical units to U.N. missions, thus promoting military cooperation between the two militaries.
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The Vietnamese and Indian national flags and the flag of VINBAX 2023 |
According to head of the Vietnamese delegation Senior Colonel Luu Dinh Hien, during the exercise, participating forces will be equipped with basic theoretical knowledge about U.N. peacekeeping operations, contribution of Vietnam and India to this field, and professional knowledge about the deployment and task implementation of engineering and military medical forces.
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Head of the Vietnamese delegation Senior Colonel Luu Dinh Hien speaking at the event |
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Head of the Indian delegation Colonel Aseem Gupta at the opening ceremony |
In addition, officers of the two countries will learn about improvised explosive devices, the reconnaissance task of the engineering section, first aid provision and transport of the injured, and triage in mass casualty situations, among others.
Engineering and military medical forces will coordinate to handle simulated circumstances, including aero-medical evacuation situations.
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The two countries’ forces participating in VINBAX 2023 |
Apart from professional contents, VINBAX 2023 also features artistic and sports exchanges and visits to enhance mutual understanding, solidarity, and friendship among members of the two delegations.
The first VINBAX was held in India in 2018, and the second in Vietnam in 2019. Both of them were conducted in the form of tabletop simulations. Later, the 2022 edition in India was upgraded to a field exercise.
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Delegates in a joint photo at the opening ceremony |
VINBAX 2023 is the fourth bilateral exercise on U.N. peacekeeping operations between the Vietnamese and Indian defense ministries and the second bilateral field exercise between the two militaries in this field.
Translated by Tran Hoai