First PN, VPN Personnel Interaction held in Southwest Cay Island

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 8): First PN, VPN Personnel Interaction held in Southwest Cay Island

As part of the effort to improve relations and cooperation between the Philippine Navy (PN) and the Vietnamese People’s Navy (VPN), the VPN hosted the First PN-VPN Personnel Interaction at Southwest Cay Island Sunday.

PN public affairs office chief Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said that for the past years, the ASEAN navies have been conducting personnel interactions among member states as part of the confidence building measures within the region.

Fabic said that for this year, the interaction between the PN and VPN focused on the discussion of interoperability and best practices in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

He added that the discussion was very timely as the Asian Region is now entering the southwest monsoon season.

The First PN-VPN Personnel Interaction included cultural presentations and sports activities to better understand the different cultures and to foster camaraderie and friendly relations between the two nations.

Both the PN and the VPN deem that this activity serves as a proof that disputes do not hinder development of practical and tangible cooperation between the two navies.

Conversely, this also serves as a model of cooperation for the other navies to emulate.

The PN is expected to host the next PN-VPN Personnel Interaction in 2015.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=651458