Pacific Partnership 2019 programme opens in Phu Yen

Phu Yen (VNA) – The Pacific Partnership 2019 programme (PP19) opened in the central coastal province of Phu Yen on May 6, aiming to improve capacity in response to natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific region.

The programme, promoted by the United States Navy in 2004, will last until May 18, with a wide range of activities, including medical examinations for local people, medical expertise exchange, the construction and repair of hospitals and schools, and a conference on natural disaster response, among others.

US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Mary Tarnowka said that the US wants to join hands with its partners to help Vietnam realise the country’s targets in building capacity to respond to natural calamities and contributing to ensuring the Indo-Pacific as a safe region through PP19 and other humanitarian programmes.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Chi Hien stressed that the Pacific Partnership programme, successfully held in Vietnam on nine occassions, is a vivid illustration of sound cooperation among regional countries in coping with climate change.

This is an opportunity for Phu Yen province to join Vietnam and regional nations’ efforts in bettering their capacity of disaster response, he said, adding that it will help the locality consolidate relations between Vietnam and its partners around the world. –VNA