(Photo courtesy of Philippine Army) MANILA - The Philippine Army (PA) hosted the seventh iteration of the Steering Group Meeting whose goal is to finalize its 2023 bilateral activities with the Royal Thai Army (RTA). "Delegates from both Armies tackled bilateral engagement plans for 2023, with Acting Chief of Staff Philippine Army and concurrent Army Inspector General Maj. Gen. Roy M. Galido and Director-General for Operations Maj. Gen. Thongchai Rodyoi spearheading the discussions," PA spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement Thursday night. The three-day meeting started last July 5, he added. The terms of reference (TOR), which established the PA-RTA Steering Group, was signed by representatives of both armies in 2015. "The PA-RTA Steering Group Meeting is held yearly and hosted alternately by both Armies. It serves as a venue for the development of annual and medium-term PA-RTA activities mutually beneficial for both armies," Trinidad said. The PA has an existing medium-term engagement plan with RTA, covering areas of cooperation such as intelligence, cyber-warfare, civil-military operations, armor, infantry, and counter-swarm. Trinidad added the PA chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Royal Thai Army Attache to Jakarta Senior Col. Kittisak Petchnoi discussed the strengthening of bilateral military education and training and updating the TOR between the two services at the sidelines of the 2022 Asian Defense and Security Conference and Exhibit in Pasay City last April. (PNA) }