Lieut. Gen. Do Ba Ty, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army received General Eduardo San Lorenzo Oban, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in Hanoi on Sept. 28.

Lieut. Gen. Ty spoke highly of the visit by General Eduardo Oban and his entourage, saying he believed that the visit will contribute to strengthening the friendship between the armies and people of the two countries.

He took the occasion to express thanks to the Philippines for the recent release of 122 Vietnamese fishermen and for the Philippine naval force’s support in rescuing 12 other fishermen who were in distress at sea on Sept. 1.

Ty also expressed his sympathy over losses and damages caused by recent storms to the Philippine people.

For his part, General Eduardo Oban applauded Vietnam ’s achievements in socio-economic development, national defence and security.

Both host and guest held that the two countries’ armies still hold great potential for cooperation as mentioned in the agreement in defence cooperation inked by the two countries’ Defence Ministries in October last year.

They agreed to step up cooperation in the exchange of delegations and intelligence information, setting up a high-level hot line, sea patrols, search and rescue rehearsal and other fields of mutual concerns.

Later the same day, General Eduardo Oban met with Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh./.