Delegates at the talks on promoting cooperation in maritime law enforcement in the region. VNA Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Coast Guard (VCG) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) held high-level talks on promoting cooperation in maritime law enforcement in the region within the framework of an exchange programme in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

Representatives of the two agencies exchanged and studied important common perceptions at the talks between party and state leaders of the two countries on October 30, as well as related contents at the "joint statement on continuing to promote and deepen the Việt Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership” issued on November 11.

They reviewed cooperation activities in 2022, and initially agreed on the cooperation plan in 2023.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, the two sides have overcome difficulties, flexibly adapted to the pandemic and applied practical, effective and safe methods to deploy exchange and cooperation activities.

The maritime law enforcement cooperation between Việt Nam and China has recorded remarkable results. They successfully organised joint patrols and exercises in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, focusing on activities to educate fishermen and organising search and rescue exercises at sea.

The coast guard forces of the two countries expressed the desire to continue to strengthen cooperation in four areas, including establishing a level-2 contact point between the Coast Guard Region 1 Command of the VCG and the CCG’s Nanhai bureau, which will be in charge of informing each other about violations of the two countries' ships, organising joint patrols, and coordinating to handle unexpected incidents in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

In 2023, the two sides will continue to follow the important common perceptions reached by the leaders of the two Parties and countries in the "MoU on cooperation between the Việt Nam Coast Guard Command and the China Coast Guard, respect the two countries' requirements for COVID-19 prevention and control, and renew and expand cooperation forms.

The agencies will organise two joint patrols in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin, professional exchanges, and search and rescue exercises.

Every month, the two sides will notify each other of information related to violations of fishing vessels, and promptly handle incidents arising at sea. They will also work to restart visits of the coast guard ships to each other, and exchanges of young officers. — VNS