Royal Navy ship HMS Richmond visits Vietnam
VOV.VN - HMS Richmond of the British Royal Navy docked at Cam Ranh International Port in Khanh Hoa province on 1 October to mark the start of a four-day visit to the nation aimed at boosting bilateral co-operation activities.
The visit comes on the 10th anniversary of UK–Vietnam defence co-operation and just two months after the first-ever visit to Vietnam by the UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace in July.
The ship's presence in the central port underlines the UK's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, at the heart of which lies the UK's partnership with Vietnam.
Captain Hugh Botterill, Commanding Officer of the HMS Richmond, said, “We are excited to be visiting Vietnam. Our role is to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to a persistent and reliable presence in the Indo-Pacific, including crucial regional partners like Vietnam with whom we have numerous shared interests. These include maritime security, sustainable development, climate change and a desire to see mutual economic growth.”
British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward also shared, “The UK and Vietnam are both maritime nations. We value freedom of navigation, based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. During my term as British Ambassador, this is the third visit by a Royal Navy Ship to Vietnam. HMS Richmond’s visit reaffirms the UK's Indo-Pacific tilt and our commitment towards expanding defence relationships with key partners in the region.
Following the visit of the UK Defence Secretary to Vietnam in July, we will deepen our defence co-operation further. Later in 2021, we will hold our fourth annual bilateral Defence Policy Dialogue. We recognise the importance of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific and the need to contribute to UN peacekeeping for global peace and security.”
Present at the welcome ceremony for the HMS Richmond on 1 October were representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs of Khanh Hoa province, Navy Region 4, Border Guard, Cam Ranh International Port, and the British Embassy Hanoi.
The event also saw Group Captain Bea Walcott, the UK Defence Attaché to Vietnam, present the Nha Trang Naval Academy with English language training material, with the occasion being an activity under the Defence Cooperation Agreement signed between both nations.
This visit of the HMS Richmond is part of a broader campaign of the Royal Navy for the Indo-Pacific region this year, with the UK being committed to peacebuilding, maritime security, and regional prosperity.