Beijing: The Chinese and Vietnamese navies have initiated a joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin aimed at enhancing regional maritime collaboration, as announced by Beijing's Defense Ministry. The patrol is part of a broader "border defense friendship exchange" coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

According to Anadolu Agency, the week-long initiative is taking place across China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Vietnam's Lang Son province. Scheduled from April 11 to 17, the event encompasses a range of activities, including search and rescue operations, signal light communication exercises, and joint medical consultations by military personnel. Additionally, the program features a naval patrol in the Beibu Gulf and cultural exchanges between border communities.

Military medical teams from China and Vietnam have provided medical assistance to over 3,100 border residents through joint consultations and home visits. They have conducted more than 1,300 free checkups and distributed over 2,000 boxes of medicine. On April 13, the Vietnamese naval fleet made its first visit to Beihai, a significant development marking its importance in the ongoing exercises.

Troops from both countries are participating in various activities designed to bolster friendship, including vessel tours, experience sharing, and sports events. These activities are in preparation for the 38th China-Vietnam joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

The joint patrol involves two Vietnamese missile frigates, Tran Hung Dao and Quang Trung, which departed from the Beihai military port in Guangxi, China. They are set to join the Chinese Navy in the Gulf of Tonkin, as reported by the local English website Vietnam Global.