Helicopter carrier Izumo and destroyer Murasame of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force on June 14 cast their anchors at Cam Ranh International Port in the south central province of Khanh Hoa, beginning a four-day visit to Vietnam.

The visit takes place in the context that relations between Vietnam and Japan as well as their defence ties have been continuously consolidated, contributing to increasing mutual understanding and trust between the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force.

It is expected to deepen the bilateral defence cooperation in an effective and pragmatic manner, while contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development collaboration in the region.

During their stay in Vietnam, more than 600 crewmembers, led by Rear Admiral Hiroshi Egawa, will pay courtesy visits to leaders of the People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa province, and the Naval Region 4 High Command.

They will also engage in sports exchanges with soldiers and officers of the Naval Region 4 and some community-based activities in the province.

Last September, the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s submarine Kuroshio docked at Cam Ranh International Port for a five-day visit to Vietnam.

This was the first visit to Vietnam by the Japanese submarine. The visit was part of activities celebrating the 45th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations and realising agreements between senior leaders of the two countries and their defence ministries.-VNA