Manila, April 17 -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen maritime security collaboration with Vietnam during a port call in Da Nang on Tuesday.

In a statement Thursday, the PCG said joint exercise planning and a tabletop exercise were conducted with the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) to prepare for upcoming joint Search and Rescue and Firefighting Exercises at Sea.

"This collaborative effort marks a pivotal step in strengthening both agencies' commitment to advancing maritime cooperation," the PCG said.

It said the drills reflect the two agencies' shared goal of enhancing interoperability in responding to maritime emergencies and maintaining safe sea lanes in Southeast Asia.

As part of the port visit, PC...