The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's training ship HATAKAZE and Murasame-class destroyer JS Inazuma carrying nearly 480 officers and sailors led by Colonel II Masaaki, commander of training vessel unit No. 1 docked at Tien Sa Port on Thursday morning for a three-day visit to Da Nang.

The training ship Hatakaze of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force docked at Tien Sa Port on Thursday morning. Photo: LE HUNG

The Japanese guests were welcomed by representatives of the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs, the High Command of the Naval Zone 3, the High Command of the Military Region 5, the Border Guard Command and the Military Command of Da Nang, and the External Relations Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence.

Japanese Consul General in Da Nang Yakabe Yoshinori, Deputy Consul General Shimonishi Kyoshi, and Deputy Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Hamamoto Michinori from the Japanese Embassy in Viet Nam were also present at the welcoming ceremony.

Colonel II Masaaki said that the visit aims to strengthen friendship and enhance mutual understanding between the Viet Nam People’s Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, as well as boost bilateral ties between Viet Nam and Japan.

During the three-day trip, the visiting guests are scheduled to conduct virtual visits to leaders of Da Nang and the Naval Region 3 Command through video-conferencing.

Colonel II Masaaki (second from the left) along with officers and sailors of the long-distance training fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force receive flowers from the Vietnamese hosts. Photo: LE HUNG

Reporting by LE HUNG - translating by H.L