A delegation from the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) comprising an officer and three cadets visited the Indian Naval Academy (INA) at Ezhimala here from January 24 to 28 for reinforcing the bridges of friendship between the two navies.
A press release issued by the INA on Tuesday said that the VPN team interacted with staff and trainees of the INA and were acquainted with the infrastructure, academic facilities and training processes at the academy.
Bilateral ties
The visit’s objective was to exchange best practices and to consolidate and enhance bilateral defence relations between India and Vietnam, the release noted.
Naval cooperation between India and Vietnam had been traditionally strong, encompassing a wide span of activities that include operational interactions through coordinated patrols, training, port calls, passage exercises, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations, the INA said. The visiting VPN cadets were given opportunities to understand the functionality of the INA and form bonds of friendship with the cadets of the academy, it stated.
They were accommodated in the cadet’s squadron and dined together with the cadets at the cadets’ mess, and were also exposed to facets of Indian culture through visits to places of historical and cultural interest in and around Payyanur, Bekal Fort, Parassinikkadavu and Fort St. Angelo. They attended the Republic Day celebrations at the INA and witnessed the INA cross-country championship on January 27. The delegation visited various training facilities and sports infrastructure at the INA, the release informed.
