S/ NNN Correspondent / The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kashima, which has been on an oceanic training cruise, arrived in London.

Kashima, a training ship of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, arrived in the British capital on September 5.

The vessel, which is on an oceanic training cruise, made a port call in London for the first time in two years.

Officials are planning exchanges between young officers from Japan and the United Kingdom and events such as a visit to a memorial for the war dead.

S/ Rear Admiral Nishiyama Takahiro, JMSDF Commander / I want the crew to learn about things like the history, culture and customs of the United Kingdom through port of call training sessions and interact with local people.

Defense cooperation between Japan and Great Britain has been active, with a bilateral agreement on the facilitation of reciprocal access and cooperation taking effect last yearThe two countries are also developing next-generation fighters together with Italy.

Japanese Ambassador to Britain Hayashi Hajime expressed hope for further bilateral cooperation, noting that the port call is part of efforts to promote healthy working-level ties between the two countries.