Maritime Self-Defense Force training vessels on a round-the-world voyage arrived in Myanmar on Monday for a five-day mission, marking the first-ever port call by an MSDF vessel to the country.

The Kashima TV-3508, Shirayuki TV-3517 and Isoyuki DD-127 were welcomed by Myanmar navy officials at Thilawa port, about 25 km south of Yangon.

The training ships Kashima and Shirayuki along with the escort destroyer Isoyuki have been traveling around the world since May with 730 MSDF members.

Yangon is the fleet's 17th stop.

The ships had previously visited ports in the U.S. and Europe, and they were at Colombo, Sri Lanka, last week. Officials said the visit is a precursor to further cooperation between the two countries on maritime security.

The fleet visits Cambodia next.