PN sends delegates to Japan for staff-to-staff talks

From the Philippine New Agency (Apr 11): PN sends delegates to Japan for staff-to-staff talks
 
The Philippine Navy (PN) on Friday announced that it has sent a contingent to Japan to participate in staff-to-staff talks with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF).

Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic, Navy spokesperson, said this deployment is in response to the invitation of JMSDF chief-of-staff Admiral Katsotoshi Kawano.

He added that the 3rd PN–JMSDF staff-to-staff talks will last from April 8 to 11.

During the talks, topics on security environment, defense policy and build-up defense program, strategy and activities and defense exchange program will be discussed by the participants.

Lessons learned during the disaster relief and rescue operations following super typhoon "Yolanda" will also be discussed.

The PN–JMSDF staff-to-staff talks is conducted to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss matters that will increase the degree of cooperation, promote mutual understanding, trust and contribute stability in the Asia-Pacific Region.

In October 2012, the PN hosted the 2nd PN–JMSDF staff-to-staff talks in Manila.

The talk focused on the terms of the Defense Cooperation and Exchanges (DCE) between the Department of National Defense of the Philippines and the Ministry of Defense of Japan as signed by DND Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin and MOD Minister Satoshi Morimoto on July 02, 2012.

The DCE covers the various defense exchanges such as working level exchanges, education and research exchanges, capacity building, exchange of information, multilateral cooperation and other forms of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon by both countries.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=634564