On Wednesday afternoon, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh played host to Lt Col Blair Saltel, commander of the Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Calgary which docked at Da Nang’s Tien Sa Port in the morning of the same day, and Mr Robert Bissett, Chargé d'affaires a.i. from the Embassy of Canada in Viet Nam.

Lt Col Blair Saltel (left) and Vice Chairman Minh

During his reception for the Canadian guests, Vice Chairman Minh highly applauded the visit by the ship in enhancing the mutual understanding, and exchanging experience in ensuring maritime safety and security, and search and rescue work at sea, between the naval forces of the two countries.

The host also asked for help from the Canadian government to give even more support for Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, in ensuring maritime safety and security, and search and rescue work at sea.

In reply, Lt Col Blair Saltel thanked the city leader for his warm welcome, saying that he was very impressed by the city’s rapid economic growth over recent years.

The Canadian naval officer also hoped that the bilateral defence cooperation between Da Nang and some Canadian localities, and his country and Viet Nam as a whole, would be tightened in the years ahead.