PH, Vietnam Navy officials hold talks

PH, VIETNAM NAVY TALKS. Ranking officials of the Philippine Navy and the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) meet during the sixth Staff-to-Staff Talks (STST) at the VPN headquarters in Hai Phong City, Vietnam on Nov. 26, 2019. The two navies discussed areas of future cooperation, which includes continuing exchange of education and training offers, high-level visits, port calls, support for their respective hosting of multilateral naval engagements next year, and the possible conduct of military training activities. (Photo: Philippine Navy/Facebook)

MANILA — Ranking officials of the Philippine Navy (PN) and the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) conducted the 6th Staff-to-Staff Talks (STST) at VPN headquarters in Hai Phong City last November 26.

In a statement sent to reporters late Thursday, PN public affairs office chief, Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, said STST aims to boost ties between the two ASEAN navies.

“The STST is aimed at further strengthening the ties between the two partner navies by serving as an avenue to initiate high-level delegation exchange visits, ship port calls, people interaction and exchanges, and other naval bilateral activities,” she said.

The event was co-chaired by PN Chief-of-Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Rey T. Dela Cruz, opposite Senior Captain Hoàng Quang Hà, the VPN Deputy Chief-of-Staff.

Aside from Dela Cruz, other PN delegates to the event include Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Operations (N-3), Captain Joe Anthony Orbe, together with Col. Arlino Sendaydiego, Philippine Defense Attachè to Vietnam.

They met with their VPN counterparts to discuss topics of common interest, such as maritime security challenges in the region, best practices in handling maritime incidents, and a review of bilateral activities that transpired between the PN and VPN in the past year.

More importantly, the two sides discussed areas of future cooperation, which includes continuing exchange of education and training offers, high-level visits, port calls, supporting each other for their respective hosting of multilateral naval engagements next year, and the possible conduct of military training activities.

The number of engagements between PN and VPN has been increasing in recent years which serves as proof of an expanding strategic partnership.

Specifically discussed during the meeting is the PN’s invitation to the VPN for their attendance to the PN hosted Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) Workshop, 17th WPNS, and International Fleet Review to be held in Manila in 2020.

In return, the VPN invited the PN to attend the 14th ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting (ANCM), International Maritime Review, and International Maritime and Security Conference to be hosted by VPN in Nhah Trang next year in line with their ANCM Chairmanship and 65th Founding Anniversary.

The 7th PN-VPN STST is expected to be conducted in 2020 to be hosted by the PN.