CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Vice Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, LtGen Arthur Cordura PAF expressed his confidence in sharing a “growing and progressive operational value” in Southeast Asia as he welcomed the delegates of the 8th Philippines-Vietnam Senior Officer’s Exchange Visit Program (SOEVP), headed by Sr. Col. Le Van Phan, Deputy Commander, Military Corp 1, Viet Nam People’s Army (VPA) in a Courtesy Call on October 16 at the General Headquarters.
“Our Armed Forces and yours have been sharing a growing and progressive operational value in Southeast Asia. For the longest time, we have endeavored to enhance our partnership. We hope that your delegation will enjoy the interactions here with our senior officers and be able to immerse yourselves in the culture that we have. We are optimistic that this visit will be productive for both our Armed Forces,” expressed LtGen Cordura.
Ten Senior Officers from the VPA are currently in the country for the SOEVP, a 10-day senior military-to-military activity conducted annually and hosted alternately by the AFP and the Vietnam People’s Armed Forces (VPAF).
“This is a remarkable milestone for all of us to come here to the Philippines. I hope that we can create favorable conditions to continue such programs. Such events will help us broaden our horizons and know more about the culture and the people of the Philippines,” said Sr. Col. Le Van Phan as he thanked the AFP.
Coming from a similar historical basis, the SOEVP provides an opportunity for the Philippines and Vietnam to share ideas on defense industry developments and common security challenges. It is also an avenue to provide cultural awareness, foster camaraderie, and strengthen alliances for both countries.
The 8th Philippines-Vietnam Senior Officer’s Exchange Visit Program (SOEVP) is set to culminate on October 24.///
