Frigate HMAS Newcastle is docking at Cam Ranh International Port. (Photo: VNA) Khanh Hoa (VNA) – Royal Australian Navy amphibious assault ship HMAS Canberra and frigate HMAS Newcastle docked at Cam Ranh International Port, the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on May 7, beginning their four-day goodwill visit to Vietnam.
The visit is made as part of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 2019) held in regional countries of Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. This is the first time the programme has been organised in Vietnam since it was launched in 2017.
According to the agenda, Royal Australian Air Force officer Commander Joint Task Force 661 Air Commodore Richard Owen, who led more than 800 Australian personnel, will have meetings with leaders of the provincial People’s Committee, and the Naval Region 4 High Command.
Meanwhile, the crew will have several engagements such as ship management and operation exchange and sport exchange with the Vietnam’s People Navy.
During their visit, the Australian army band will deliver a public performance at Tue Tinh Park, Nha Trang city. Besides, the crew will have an exchange with students from Thai Nguyen secondary school and the Information Technology-Foreign Language Centre.
Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick said that IPE will help deepen the Vietnam-Australia relations, including the defence ties, based on mutual understanding and trust.
Australia always welcomes opportunities to expand defence cooperation with Vietnam, and the goodwill visit made by the royal Australian ships affirms that Vietnam is an important partner of Australia in the region.-VNA
VNA
