British Royal Navy ship HMS Richmond. Source: British Embassy in Hanoi

Present at the welcome ceremony 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 in Hanoi.

Group Captain Bea Walcot, the UK Defence Attaché to Vietnam presented the Nha Trang Naval Academy English language training material. This is an activity under the Defence Cooperation Agreement between Vietnam and the United Kingdom.

The visit comes on the 10th anniversary of Vietnam – UK defence cooperation and just two months after the first-ever visit to Vietnam by the UK Secretary of State for Defence in July 2021.

Captain Hugh Botterill, HMS Richmond’s Commanding Officer and the crew.

Present at the welcome ceremony on October 1 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 in Hanoi.

The ship's presence underlines the UK's commitment to the Indo-Pacific, at the heart of which lies the UK's partnership with Vietnam.

Captain Hugh Botterill, HMS Richmond’s Commanding Officer, said: "We are excited to be visiting Viet Nam. 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."

According to British Ambassador to Vietnam, Gareth Ward, the UK and Vietnam are both maritime nations. We value freedom of navigation, based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). During his term as ambassador to Vietnam, this is the third visit by a British Royal Navy Ship to the Southeast Asian country.

HMS Richmond’s visit reaffirms the UK's IndoPacific tilt and our commitment towards expanding defence relationships with key partners in the region, he said. "Following the visit of the UK Defence Secretary to Vietnam in July, we will deepen our defence cooperation 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."

This visit of HMS Richmond is part of a broader campaign of the Royal Navy in 2021 for the Indo-Pacific region, which is part of the UK's commitment to peacebuilding, maritime security, and regional prosperity.

British Royal Navy ship HMS Richmond docked at Cam Ranh International Port, the south-central province of Khanh Hoa

HMS Richmond, 133 metre long ship with a displacement of 4812 tonnes, is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy, launched in 1993. She has a crew of 193 officers and can operate in almost any maritime role anywhere in the world and undertake virtually every type of operation imaginable, from counter-narcotics and anti-piracy to disrupting people trafficking and detaining criminals.

This is the third visit by a British Royal Navy Ship to Vietnam, other previous ship are HMS Daring (2013), HMS Albion (2018), and HMS Enterprise (2020).

UK Secretary of State for Defence Robert Ben Lobban Wallace speaks at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. Photo: The World & Vietnam Report

During a dialogue with Vietnamese scholars and students of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, UK Secretary of State for Defence Robert Ben Lobban Wallace stressed, through the strategy tilting towards the Asia-Pacific released last March, the UK has affirmed its long-term commitment to peace and stability in the region.

Challenges and security at sea in the region have remained a common concern of the international community, Wallace said, explaining that they have affected regional peace and stability, as well as the rule of law.

Given this, the UK wishes to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN countries in the “ASEAN way” to promote dialogues and common peace and stability, he said, stressing that as a permanent member of the UNSC, the UK has a duty to protect the rules-based international order.

Wallace lauded Vietnam’s increasing role not only in the region but also in global issues, as proven in the country’s contributions to UN peacekeeping operations.

The UK and Vietnam share many strategic visions and interests, such as the views on free trade and the significance of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, he said.

The UK will continue its close coordination with Vietnam to boost cooperation within the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, he pledged.

Earlier, three Australian warships included amphibious assault ship HMAS Canberra, missile frigate HMAS Anzac and tanker HMAS Sirius, with more than 700 officers and soldiers aboard also arrived Cam Ranh International Port on Sep. 20.

Their arrival is part of the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2021 (IPE21), an annual Australian Defence Force (ADF) activity which delivers on the promise of the 2016 Defence White Paper to strengthen Australia’s engagement and partnerships with regional security forces, reported VNA.

Local Friendship Unions Continue Supporting Others Amid Pandemic Food assistance has been launched by local friendship unions for struggling locals and expats amid the pandemic in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa and Ben Tre Provinces.

Visit Binh Ba– The Beautiful “Island of Lobsters” Attraction of Khanh Hoa Binh Ba Island in Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province, which is called the Kingdom of Lobsters, is famous for its wild, pristine beauty and ...

Kindness During Covid Times: Vietnamese and Expats Help the Needy Despite the social distancing orders, coronavirus hasn't stopped people from reaching out to help others.