The Vietnamese chief of the General Staff was welcomed by Vice Admiral Saito Akira, Commander-in-Chief of the Self-Defense Fleet, and Rear Admiral Kunimi Yasuhiro, Chief of Staff of Yokosuka Naval region.
At these two naval bases, Gen. Cuong was briefed upon the bases’ functions, missions, and outstanding activities. Gen. Cuong and other members of the Vietnamese delegation visited and learned about the features and duties of minesweeper JS Hirado, which was put into use in March 2018, and is assigned to Minesweeper Division 1, Mine Warfare Force, Self-Defense Fleet based at Yokosuka Naval Base.
The Vietnamese senior officer highly appreciated the professional competence, professionalism, regularity, discipline and the spirit of preparedness to fight and perform tasks of Japanese officers and soldiers. He underlined that over the past 50 years since the two countries established their diplomatic ties, the Vietnam - Japan relations have constantly developed both extensively and intensively. On the basis of the two countries’ flourishing relationship, the bilateral defense ties have been boosted by the two sides’ senior leaders and developed deeply and substantially.
Given decades-long relationship, high consensus and constant efforts of the two countries’ leaders and peoples, Gen. Cuong expressed his belief that the ties between Vietnam and Japan will enjoy new development in all fields in accordance with aspirations and common interests of the two peoples, making active contribution to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.
The Vietnamese chief of the General Staff also believed that this visit will help promote the cooperation between the two defense ministries, and between the VPA and the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in particular, thus deepening the Vietnam - Japan extensive strategic partnership.
He confirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense and the VPA will create favorable conditions for JMSDF units to meet and exchange experiences with their counterparts from the Vietnam People’s Navy.
* In the afternoon the same day, Gen. Cuong and the Vietnamese high-ranking military delegation visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, during which he gave a briefing on the Vietnamese delegation’s important outcomes during the Japan visit. He hoped to receive more support from the embassy in order to effectively implement the cooperation contents reached during the visit.
Below are some photos of the visits.
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Rear Admiral Kunimi Yasuhiro welcomes Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong in the latter’s visit to Yokosuka Naval Base. |
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Gen. Cuong shakes hands with and presents a souvenir to the Commanding Officer of minesweeper JS Hirado. |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong listens to the introduction to minesweeper JS Hirado. |
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Gen. Cuong and his entourage learn about the JS Hirado’s equipment. |
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The host and guest in a joint photo in front of minesweeper JS Hirado |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong writes down in a visitors’ book at the headquarters of the Self-Defense Fleet. |
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An overview of the talk between Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong and Commander-in-Chief of the Self-Defense Fleet Saito Akira |
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The chief of the VPA’s General Staff presents a souvenir to Vice Admiral Saito Akira. |
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Vice Admiral Saito Akira presents a souvenir to Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong. |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong talks to Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu. |
By Van Chien from Tokyo, Japan
Translated by Mai Huong