On Tuesday, Rear Admiral Cynthia M Thebaud, Commander of Logistics Group Western Pacific, paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee, Mr Phung Tan Viet.

During the reception, Vice Chairman Viet briefed his guest on the city’s future development strategies, and expressed his belief that USA-Viet Nam relations will be further strengthened.  In addition, he requested that the US navy support Da Nang in its search and rescue training activities.  The city leader also said that he hopes that the USA will give equipment assistance to the city’s Centre for Early Warnings and Mitigation of Storms and Floods and to the Cancer Hospital, as well as provide more humanitarian aid for the city and for local charitable activities.

Rear Admiral Cynthia M Thebaud and Vice Chairman Viet

For her part, Rear Admiral Thebaud took the opportunity to thank the local authorities and residents for their warm welcome.  She said that she is keenly interested in the city’s proposals for bilateral cooperation in search and rescue.  She affirmed that this aspect is entirely consistent with the role of the US navy.  In addition, the visiting guest expressed her desire to ensure maritime safety and security in the two countries, and in the world as a whole.

Also on Tuesday, the crew members of the guided missile destroyer USS John S McCain and the rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard talked to students from the University of Da Nang about the enforcement of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.