Pacific Friends Program: Spreading human values

Photo caption — Leaders of Quang Tri province presented flowers to partners of the Pacific Friends Program 2025.

At the program, Standing Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam said that over the past two weeks, Quang Tri has become a place of friendship, sharing and international cooperation. Activities have been implemented effectively, leaving many strong impressions in the hearts of local people and international friends. The repair work has been completed, the professional exchange classes have just ended, but the beautiful memories of sharing will remain, becoming the driving force for the two countries to continue to foster an increasingly deep, effective and sustainable cooperative relationship. From Quang Tri, humanistic values will continue to spread, contributing to enriching the three-decade journey of Vietnam - US relations.

Mr. Hoang Nam emphasized that in the context of Vietnam and the United States upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, celebrating the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations (1995-2025), the success of the Pacific Friends Program in Quang Tri has a special significance. This is a vivid demonstration of the increasingly close, substantive and effective relationship between the two countries, while opening up many new cooperation opportunities for peace, stability and sustainable development of each country, the region and the world.

Taking place from September 9, the program has 13 activities in 4 main groups including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief; healthcare; construction, repair and military-civilian relations, contributing to improving healthcare, education, disaster response, explosives handling, and infrastructure improvement. The program's Dental Support Team performed 2,350 procedures for students at Gio Linh Primary School; provided advanced training in neurology and physical therapy; and trained 57 Vietnamese soldiers in basic rescue skills. Community health instructors collaborated with 64 local medical staff in lifesaving and extended field care; provided explosives handling training. The Oregon National Guard trained 27 officers on communication systems and drones; and presented 36 emergency kits to partners at the Quang Tri Center for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Pacific Friendship is a multinational humanitarian assistance and training program initiated by the US Government after the 2004 tsunami disaster. The program is implemented by the US Navy's Pacific Fleet in cooperation with governments, military forces, humanitarian and non-governmental organizations in the region. Since 2007, Vietnam has allowed the United States and partner countries to implement 12 programs in Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Nghe An and Quang Ngai. The programs have achieved positive results, contributing to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and participating partner countries. Before 2024, the program was called Pacific Partnership. In 2025, at the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the program was called Pacific Friendship and implemented by the US Army.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/chuong-trinh-ban-be-thai-binh-duong-lan-toa-nhung-gia-tri-nhan-van-20250919193142130.htm