The Indian warships INS Satpura and INS Kirch docks at Cam Ranh International Port (Photo: laodong.com.vn) Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The Indian warships INS Satpura and INS Kirch, with 80 officers and 580 sailors onboard, docked at Cam Ranh International Port, in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on May 30.
The delegation, led by Rear Admiral Soonil V Bhokare, Commander of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy, began their five-day official visit to Vietnam in the context of growing relations between Vietnam and India, especially in bilateral defence relations.
Last year, the two countries signed a joint vision statement on bilateral defence relations for the 2015-2020 period, which served as a base to deepen cooperation between the two nations’ defences.
The delegation’s visit is among specific activities to carry out agreements between the two countries’ leaders, helping enhance collaboration between the two naval forces.
At the welcome ceremony for the Indian warships at Cam Ranh International Port, Rear Admiral Soonil V Bhokare spoke highly of the Port’s strategic position as well as its roles in providing logistics services and repairs for foreign naval ships.
About INS Satpura and INS Kirch, he said that the ships were built in India as destroyers; however, they can serve other missions for the navy force.
During their stay in Vietnam, the delegation will meet with the provincial People’s Committee and the Naval Zone 4 High Command as well as visit Nha Trang Naval Institute. They will also inviteVietnamese representatives onboard to tour the ships while organising sport exchange with Naval Zone 4.
After leaving Cam Ranh International Port on June 3, the Indian ships will hold a joint exercise with the Vietnamese navy force.
This is the fourth visited by foreign naval ships to Cam Ranh International Port after it became operational at the beginning of March, 2016. Earlier visits were made by naval ships from Singapore, Japan and France.-VNA
