The Philippines and Vietnam committed to strengthening their armies’ cooperation to bolster individual and joint defense capabilities.
This, as Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido rendered a courtesy call on Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong during his visit to Vietnam from April 7 to 10.
“The Army Chief's official visit aims to foster camaraderie and strengthen bilateral engagements between the two armies, building upon the foundation established by the 2015 Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Vietnam,” PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said Friday, April 11.
Manila and Hanoi signed the joint statement on Nov. 17, 2015 to enable their strategic partnership through cooperation in various areas such as political, economic, defense, security, judicial, and law enforcement among others.
After the courtesy call, Galido held a bilateral meeting with Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Nghia, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, at the Ministry of Defense Headquarters in Hanoi.
Galido’s meeting with the top VPA brass provided a venue for professional discussions on topics of mutual interest, according to Dema-ala.
These included an exchange of experience, knowledge, and information, as well as identifying opportunities for capability development for both organizations, “potentially leading to the establishment of formal Terms of Reference in the future.”
The establishment of a TOR would define the scope, objectives, and responsibilities for a future project or activity. to ensure clarity and accountability in military operations, especially in areas like procurement and collaborations.
Further, Galido also observed a capability demonstration at the VPA’s Special Forces Academy and toured the Viettel High Tech Company, a leading technology provider which plays a key role in enhancing Vietnam's military technology and defense capabilities.