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BAKAMLA and VCG should support Vietnamese and Indonesian Governments’ efforts in negotiating maritime boundary of each country’s exclusive economic zone. Photo for illustration: petrotimes.vn
At the meeting, the two sides reiterated the importance of the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership, and agreed that the bilateral cooperation between VCG and BAKAMLA must be promoted on a par with the strategic partnership, particularly on joint efforts to deal with issues related to the contiguous zone to Northern Natuna and reduce tension in the East Sea (South China Sea).

The host stressed that BAKAMLA and VCG should support the two Governments’ efforts in negotiating maritime boundary of each country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Indonesian official affirmed that the Indonesian side is ready to negotiate with Vietnam on maritime issues and honor Vietnam’s legitimate rights and interests.

For his part, the guest attached importance to bolstering order, stability and security in the seas related to the two countries. According to the Vietnamese official, the two countries’ maritime law enforcement forces should take legal education and information dissemination as the measures to prevent fishermen of one country from violating the other country’s maritime law. The two sides should spur the establishment of a cooperation mechanism on search and rescue as well as support for fishermen of the two countries, and should absolutely not resort to the use of force against fishermen nor do harm to them, physically or emotionally even if they are caught violating the other country’s law, General Dam suggested.

In the immediate future, he continued suggesting the two sides should take the boundary of the continental shelf as the limit to maritime patrol of the two sides’ law enforcement forces, and at the same time, promote the mechanism of joint patrol of the two coast guard forces.

General Dam also said that VCG applauded BAKAMLA’s support for the two governments’ negotiations on the EEZ’s boundary.

The guest took the chance to invite leaders of BAKAMLA to visit Vietnam at the next opportune time. 

Reported by Tan Tuan from Jakarta, Indonesia

Translated by Thu Nguyen