MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has toured a Pakistan Navy ship, as the Philippine and Pakistani governments and militaries are seeking to boost relations.
Mr Duterte on Thursday boarded the Pakistani Sword-class missile guided frigate, PNS SAIF, at around 4:30 p.m. The president was accompanied by Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.
WATCH: President Duterte tours PNS Saif | via @dgplacido pic.twitter.com/Lm9ETYgP2X
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PNS Saif, which is on a three-day goodwill visit to the Philippines from December 14 to 17, docked at the Manila Bay. It is skippered by Captain Shahzad Iqbal.
PNS Saif is one of Pakistan’s four Zulfiguar (Sword) Class frigates.
Philippine Navy vessel Rajah Humabon rendered customary meeting procedures on the Saif off Corregidor Island, the Inquirer reported.
“The visit aims to renew and strengthen the Pakistan-Philippines relationship. It also promoted friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between the two navies through naval diplomacy,” said Capt Lued Lincuna, Director of the Naval Public Affairs Office.
Lincuna said the visit would also include series of confidence building engagements between the Philippine Navy and the Pakistan Navy Ship personnel.
The goodwill visit will include a series of confidence-building engagements between Philippine and Pakistan Navy personnel.
The vessel came from China and Thailand before arriving in the Philippines. It will next make a stop in Malaysia.
