MANILA, March 19 (PIA) -- The Command General Staff College (CGSC) Class 55 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) arrived in Beijing last March 18 for a five-day visit to call on senior military officials of the People's Liberation Army and to tour military facilities in Beijing and Shanghai.
The 148-member delegation, composed mostly of middle ranking officials (lieutenant colonel rank) from the Philippine Army, Navy and Air Force, was led by Col. Ramon Loria Prof, Head of the Academic Center of the CGSC.
The delegation called on Chargé d' Affaires Alex G. Chua of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing in the afternoon of March 19 before proceeding with the rest of their itinerary, which included visits to the 196 Brigade of the Beijing Military Command, the 24th Division of the PLA Air Force, and the College of Defense Studies of the National Defense University.
The delegation will depart Beijing for Shanghai on March 21.
The visit to China of the biggest delegation so far of Philippine military officers to China showcases the strong, vibrant and comprehensive relations between the two countries as they celebrate the Years of Friendly Exchanges.
Last year, President Benigno S. Aquino III and Chinese President Hu Jintao declared 2012 and 2013 as the Years of Friendly Exchanges during the former's State Visit to China in August. The YFE will be formally launched in Manila on March 20, to be followed shortly by the formal launching in Beijing.
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CJS/DFA press release | Philippine Information Agency | March 19, 2012 | Article Link
