Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido is looking to beef up its defense ties with the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
The PA chief made this comment after his April 7 to 10 official visit to the Southeast Asia country, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a media release Friday.
“Army chief Lt. Gen Roy Galido committed to stronger ties between the PA and the VPA and explored points of convergence towards enhancing both Armies’ defense capabilities during his official visit,” he added.
Galido’s official visit aimed 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.
During Galido’s three-day trip, he rendered a courtesy call on Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong, chief of the general staff of the VPA, followed by a bilateral meeting with Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Nghia, deputy chief of the general staff, at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Hanoi.
“Lt. Gen. 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,” Dema-ala said.
Meanwhile, the bilateral meeting between Galido and top VPA officials provided a venue for professional discussions on topics of mutual interest, including an exchange of experience, knowledge, and information.
This also includes identifying opportunities for capability development for both organizations, potentially leading to the establishment of formal terms of reference in the future. (PNA)