The US Navy’s hospital ship the USNS Mercy will set off from its San Diego naval base in Southern California on a tour of four Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Timor Leste on May 1 as part of the 2010 Pacific Partnership programme.

According to an announcement issued on April 15 by the US's Starfleet Command III and the Pacific Starfleet Command, the 2010 Pacific Partnership will be carried out over the summer to strengthen relations between the US and its partners in Southeast Asia and Oceania by providing medical, dental and technical aid.

Also, as part of the programme, the fifth of its kind, two other US Navy ships will visit Palau and Papua New Guinea./.