MANILA, Wednesday, 18
September 2019 – The Initial Planning Conference (IPC) of the 17th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) and International Fleet Review 2020 (IFR) was conducted on Tuesday, 17th September 2019 and Wednesday, 18th September 2019, hosted by the Philippines Navy (PN) at the Diamond Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines.
A total of 18 navies from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, USA and Vietnam attended the 2-day conference. Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) was represented by Lieutenant Commander Malek Fadillah bin Pehin Datu Juragan Haji Kefli, the Executive Officer of KDB DARULAMAN.
The IPC 17th WPNS & IFR 2020 conference was officiated by Major General Nathaniel Y. Casem AFP, The Naval Inspector General, Philippines Navy. Captain Richard M. David, PN (GSC), DFMWC/DCNTG-IFR, the chairman of 17th WPNS & IFR 2020 IPC Working Group and gave his welcoming remarks. In his welcome remarks, he expressed his appreciation of the delegates to be able to attend IPC. The objective of the IPC was mainly to provide information on the planned programmed activities for ships and delegates as well as logistics matters during the 17th WPNS & IFR 2020.
The 17th WPNS & IFR 2020 is planed to be conducted from 17 to 23 May 2020 in Manila, Philippines. The main highlight of the programmed activities will be the lFR 2020 on the 21 May 2020 within the vicinity of Manila Bay.
