Delegates take a photo at the opening ceremony of the HACGAM-7
The Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies, on October 27th, adopted the Joint Statement of the 7th Heads of Coast Guard Agencies Head (HACGAM-7) hosted by Vietnam between October 25th and 28th in Hanoi.

Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies of Bangladesh; Brunei; Cambodia; China; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Japan; Malaysia; Myanmar; Pakistan; Philippines; Republic of Korea; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand and Vietnam, with the participation of observers including the representative of ReCAAP-ISC, agreed with a cornerstone of cooperation in the field of capacity building for now and the future, and a deliberation of further steps for joint efforts within a framework that fully respects the competence and the principle of voluntary engagement of each coast guard agency.

Firstly, recalling the Joint Statement of the 6th HACGAM held in Shanghai, China in 2010 to actively promote international cooperation and enhance capacity building in the Asian region by formulating a 5-year action program which indicates goals and methodologies of each coast guard agency,

Secondly, recognizing many incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships are still occurring globally,

Thirdly, taking into account the intention of the Joint Statement of the 6th HACGAM in Shanghai, China in 2010, to expand its scope of discussion from the field of issues related to piracy and armed robbery against ships as well as other unlawful acts at sea, which was the basic concept of the 1st HACGAM in Tokyo, Japan in 2004, to all coast guard activities, and the importance of sharing countermeasure related knowledge and experience against massive disasters since response to such disasters is one of its principal responsibilities,

Fourthly, recognizing that the HACGAM will have its tenth anniversary meeting in three years’ time, and ASPIRING to manage HACGAMs way forward to produce concrete achievements that will give the seas of Asia a bright future,

Fifthly, adopted a 5-year action program based on the priority areas and goals for future capacity building submitted by each nation, as a cornerstone of future efforts by each member country and enhanced cooperation with each other in the field of capacity building, and as the outcome of discussions at this HACGAM,

Sixthly, reaffirmed the need for resolute actions in accordance with the assets of each coast guard and their respective national laws as well as the importance of piracy countermeasures,

Seventhly, agreed to compile each country’s countermeasures for massive disasters as best practices at the 8th HACGAM,

Last but not least, also agreed to consider a concrete plan and schedule to be discussed at the 8th HACGAM based upon the achievements of the seven previous HACGAMs, by making use of the correspondence group and Working-Level Meeting, for concrete achievements that contribute towards maritime safety, security, and environmental protection through “Asian-wide joint efforts” in not only capacity building, countermeasure against unlawful acts such as piracy, and response against massive disaster but also other coast guard activities.

Van Hieu