US’s aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson visits Vietnam's Danang

Thứ Ba, 06/03/2018, 15:49
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain and the destroyer USS Wayne E.Meyer of the US Navy anchored at Tien Sa Port, Da Nang city on May 5.
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam, for a scheduled port call March 5, marking the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier has visited the country in more than 40 years.
The aircraft carrier arrived with two escort ships, cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108). The Carl Vinson Strike Group is on a regularly scheduled deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The visit marks an enormously significant milestone in our bilateral relations and demonstrates U.S. support for a strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam,” said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink
Sailors will participate in cultural and professional exchanges during community service projects, sports competitions, and receptions planned for the port call. Additionally, Navy musicians from the U.S. 7th Fleet Band will perform free concerts for the public.
Top leaders from the United States and Vietnam discussed the possibility of an aircraft carrier visit last year as part of an effort to further defense relations.
The visit aims to actualize the agreement reached by the two countries’ senior leaders in the joint statement issued by Vietnam and the US during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Vietnam in November 2017.
 It is seen as a step of strengthening the two countries’ ties in line with their comprehensive partnership, thereby maintaining peace, stability, security, cooperation, and development in the region.
Earlier, an inter-sectoral official delegation from Vietnam visited US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on March 3-4 when the ship passed through the international waters near the country’s coast.
Since 2009, Vietnam has sent officials to visit the US’s aircraft carriers when they went through the international waters near the country’s coast.
Recently, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh also visited the USS George H.W.Bush aircraft carrier (CVN-77) during an official visit to Norfolk city in the US state of Virginia from February 21-22.
By Phung Nguyen