Vietnam, Philippines deepen naval ties with 8th friendly exchange on Song Tu Dong island

At a meeting between the delegations from the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Philippine Navy. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Colonel Nguyen Vinh Nam, Deputy Commander of Naval Region 4, while Colonel Joel C. Bonavente, Deputy Commander of the Philippine Western Naval Command, headed the Philippine side.

Building on the success of the seventh exchange held on Song Tu Tay Island in July 2024, this year’s programme aimed to further enhance the friendship, cooperation, mutual trust, and understanding between the armed forces and navies of Vietnam and the Philippines. It also served as a practical step toward implementing existing naval cooperation agreements signed by both sides.

Following the success of the seventh exchange on Song Tu Tay island in July 2024, this year’s programme aimed to further strengthen the friendship, cooperation, mutual trust, and understanding between the armed forces and navies of Vietnam and the Philippines. It also served to effectively implement the cooperation documents signed between the two navies.

Colonel Bonavente welcomed the Vietnamese delegation to the exchange, highlighting that the eighth exchange reaffirmed the two navies’ commitment to maintaining and ensuring a peaceful environment, and implementing laws-based maritime cooperation mechanisms, thereby building trust, preventing unnecessary incidents, and preserving and cultivating the valuable cooperative achievements the two sides have developed over the years.

He noted that these exchanges help deepen mutual understanding and trust between the two navies, contributing to the growing friendship between the two nations and playing a vital role in maintaining peace, stability, security, and maritime safety of each country as well as in the region.

For his part, Colonel Nam affirmed that the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines, the bilateral ties and the collaboration between the two navies have been continuously strengthened, yielding positive outcomes across various fields.

He added that the organisation of this friendship exchange demonstrated the aspiration and goodwill of the two navies in building a peaceful and stable environment in Song Tu Tay and Song Tu Dong island areas and in the East Sea in general. It also showed their responsibilities to strictly observe the signed cooperation agreements.

The ongoing exchanges reflect the goodwill and shared desire of both navies to foster a peaceful and stable environment around the two islands in particular and the East Sea in general. They also underscore the commitment of both sides to fully implement their naval cooperation agreements.

Both sides agreed to organise the 9th friendly exchange on Song Tu Tay Island at a mutually convenient time. They also reaffirmed their commitment to joint efforts in protecting fishermen, sharing maritime security information, and issuing timely disaster warnings in the region.

As part of the programme, the two navies took part in a range of friendly activities, including sports competitions such as tug of war, obstacle courses, and football matches, along with cultural, musical, and culinary exchanges.

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