Some 40 warships from countries across the world, including the US, Russia, China and Japan, gathered in the Gulf of Thailand on 20 November to join the 2017 International Fleet Review.

The International Fleet Review is hosted by Thailand on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.

The event is a result of the 8^th ASEAN Navy Chief’s Meeting in Bangkok in August 2014 to strengthen cooperation between navy forces of ASEAN member states.

This month, Thailand also hosted the 11^th ASEAN Navy Chief’s Meeting and the first ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercise in and around its Sattahip Naval Base, the largest base of the Royal Thai Navy, located in the northern part of the Gulf of Thailand.

(Source: VNA)