Secretary Lorenzana warmly welcomed the visit of ETG 539 and expressed his sincere thanks for their hospitality.
On January 17, 2019, the Escort Task Group 539 (ETG539) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, composed of the missile frigates Wuhu and Handan and the replenishment ship Dongpinghu, arrived in Manila to conduct a five-day good-will visit to the Republic of the Philippines.
And on the morning of January 20, 2019, Delfin Negrillo Lorenzana, the Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines, accompanied by Vice Admiral Robert Arugay Empedrad, Flag Officer-In-Command of the Philippine Navy, visited the missile frigate Wuhu. He was greeted by Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, Rear Admiral Xu Haihua and Rear Admiral Du Naihua, and Commanders of the task group at Pier 15 of Manila South Harbour. During the visit, he also inspected the honor guards of ETG 539 on board the missile frigate Wuhu.
Lorenzana toured the ship and received a briefing about the PLA Navy and the escort missions of ETG 539 in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia headed by Rear Admiral Xu Haihua and Rear Admiral Du Naihua.
Secretary Lorenzana warmly welcomed the visit of ETG 539 and expressed his sincere thanks for their hospitality. He said that military relations between the two countries is an important part of the overall relationship between China and the Philippines. He also expressed his support to the continuous friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two navies which includes high-level visits, personnel exchanges and mutual ship visits.
