On Wednesday, the guided-missile destroyer USS John S McCain of the US Navy docked at the Tien Sa Port to begin a 4-day friendship visit to Da Nang.  The visit is part of the 7^th annual Naval Exchange Activity (NEA) between the US and Vietnamese naval forces.

Vice Chairman Minh and one of the US guests (Photo: danang.gov.vn)

On Thursday, municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh warmly received a group of the ship’s naval officers, led by Vietnamese-American Captain Le Ba Hung, the Commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. 

Vice Chairman Minh remarked that his city is now focusing on promoting the development of such local spearhead economic sectors as tourism, logistics and hi-tech industry.  He spoke highly of the effective implementation of the US Navy-led Pacific Partnership programmes over recent years, especially the effective exchanges between the 2 countries’ naval forces in search and rescue activities. 

The host also affirmed that, given the USA’s valuable support for the city, Da Nang will concentrate on enhancing the operation of its natural disaster warning system to boost the efficiency of search and rescue activities, as well as natural disaster preparedness and mitigation work in Da Nang and other central region localities.  He said he would like the US naval force to give more help to the city to cope with natural disasters as well as to implement local social and humanitarian activities in the years ahead.

The guided-missile destroyer USS John S McCain (Photo: vietnamplus)

In reply, Captain Hung said that he has always looked forward to visiting this beautiful seaside city.  He also said he hoped that this visit to Da Nang would be a good opportunity for the 2 countries’ naval forces to share their experiences in such aspects as search and rescue, disaster mitigation, and maritime activities.

The NEA Viet Nam 2016 will focus on non-combatant events and will include symposia in military medicine and maritime law, subject matter expert exchanges in navigation, shipboard medicine and damage control, and community service events including multiple performances by the US Navy's 7^th Fleet rock band, Orient Express.  NEA Vietnam has evolved from the annual port visits to Da Nang by US Navy ships, which began more than a decade ago, to a multi-day bilateral naval engagement ashore and at sea.