Foreign battleships visit VN

The visit was part of the Viet Nam-France defense cooperation plan for 2017, aiming to strengthen bilateral defense ties and strategic partnership.

While their ships are docked in Viet Nam, the French naval officers are scheduled to meet leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the municipal High Command and the High Command of Naval Zone 2.

The Vietnamese and French naval forces are set to have exchanges and joint exercises.

The Viet Nam Peacekeeping Centre and 175 Hospital under the Ministry of National Defense sent a delegation to visit the field hospital of the visiting French ships to learn experience serving the upcoming deployment of army medical corps for UN peacekeeping missions.

Earlier, the Fuyuzuki destroyer arrived at international seaport in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa on Wednesday, commencing the ship’s visit to Viet Nam.

The visit, from April 12-15, featured meetings between Japanese naval officers and leaders from the provincial People’s Committee and the 4th Regional Command, as well as tours of certain Vietnamese naval vessels.

* On April 14, three Thai naval vessels arrived at Cam Ranh International Port in Khanh Hoa Province, starting a friendly visit to Viet Nam from April 14-18.

* Earlier, the Royal New Zealand Navy ship, HMNZS TE KAHA carrying 27 officers and 150 sailors on board docked in central Da Nang city’s port on April 12, starting its five-day friendship visit to Viet Nam. 

The ship and crew members were welcomed by representatives of the municipal Department of Foreign Service, the Military Zone 5, the Naval High Command and relevant agencies, and those from the New Zealander Embassy in Viet Nam.

During the stay, the officers and sailors are scheduled to pay courtesy visits to leaders of the municipal People’s Committee, the Military High Command Zone 5 and the Naval High Command Zone 3./.  

By Kim Loan