Metro Manila, Philippines— A Vietnamese Coast Guard vessel is on its way to the Philippines to engage with the Philippine Coast Guard.
In a report on state-run Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the VCG vessel CSB 8002 left Kỳ Hà Port in Tam Quang Commune, Quảng Nam, a province in Central Vietnam on Wednesday, on Aug. 1.
The VNA reports said the Vietnamese delegation is led by Senior Lieutenant Colonel Hoàng Quốc Đạt, deputy commander of the Coast Guard Region 2 Command.
The Vietnamese official said the delegation will hold a number of activities with Philippine counterparts, including sports exchanges, cultural and historical site tours in Manila.
Both sides will also hold joint training exercises focusing on search and rescue operations and maritime safety.
VNA reported that the Manila visit underscores Vietnam’s commitment to a foreign defense policy of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
Vietnam also reiterated its commitment to safeguarding sovereignty, ensuring security, and maintaining order in the nation’s maritime zones in association with economic development promotion.
The Philippines and Vietnam are claimants in the South China Sea.
Early this year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. noted the need for stronger defense cooperation and regular conduct of high-level exchanges.
Manila and Hanoi also signed a memorandum of understanding on incident prevention in the South China Sea.
“The two nations agreed to enhance coordination regarding maritime issues bilaterally, within the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and with other dialogue partners, with both sides intensifying efforts to promote trust, confidence, and understanding, through dialogue and cooperative activities,” the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement on Jan. 30.
