The opening ceremony was attended by the leaders of Phu Yen provincial People’ Committee, UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward, and US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Mary Tarnowka.
In addition, the event also features the participation of US military experts and experts from countries such as Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the UK and Thailand.
PP19 is taking place in Phu Yen province from May 6 to 18, with 117 activities, such as medical examinations and treatment for local people, professional exchanges in health, building and repairing schools and hospitals, participating in community exchanges and co-organising workshops on disaster response.
The PP19 aims to ensure that partner countries are well-prepared for effective and comprehensive responses to calamities.
According to the US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Mary Tarnowka, through the Pacific Partnership Programme 2019 and other humanitarian programmes, the US wants to join hands with its partners to support Vietnam to achieve its goals in disaster response and to ensure the Indian-Pacific as a safe region.
Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Chi Hien stressed that the Pacific Partnership programme, successfully held in Vietnam on nine occasions, is a vivid illustration of the sound cooperation among regional countries in coping with climate change.
The event is considered as an opportunity for Phu Yen province to join Vietnam and regional nations’ efforts in bettering their capacity in disaster response, he said, adding that it will help the locality consolidate relations between Vietnam and its partners around the world.
