Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido is actively working to strengthen the country’s defense cooperation with the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
This developed following Galido’s official visit to Vietnam from April 7 to 10, according to Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala.
“Army chief Lt. Gen Roy Galido committed to stronger ties between the PA and the VPA and explored points of convergence towards enhancing both Armies’ defense capabilities during his official visit,” Dema-ala said in a news release on Friday.
The visit aimed to build camaraderie and expand bilateral military engagements, reinforcing the 2015 Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Vietnam.
During his three-day visit, Galido met with VPA Chief of the General Staff Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong and held a bilateral meeting with Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Nghia, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Hanoi.
Galido also observed a capability demonstration at the VPA Special Forces Academy and toured Viettel High Tech Company, a prominent provider of military technology crucial to Vietnam’s defense infrastructure.
The bilateral meeting facilitated professional discussions on shared interests, including knowledge exchange, capability development, and opportunities for deeper collaboration.
These discussions aim to explore future agreements and formalize terms to further enhance the defense partnership between the two nations.