Vietnam Coast Guard and JICA Office to boost cooperation for peace at sea

Lieutenant General Le Quang Dao (right) and Kobayashi Yosuke.

During the meeting, General Dao expressed his pleasure at welcoming Kobayashi Yosuke back to Vietnam, 20 years after his first posting in 2005. He expressed confidence that Kobayashi would continue to contribute meaningfully to the strong cooperative relationship between the two countries, as well as between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard.

On this occasion, the two sides exchanged and discussed key areas of cooperation and potential in maritime law enforcement between the two countries. Their discussion focused on enhancing maritime security and safety, strengthening joint activities, education and training for capacity building, and sending delegations to maritime security seminars in Japan.

An overview of the meeting

Regarding the “Maritime Security and Safety Capacity Improvement Project” in Vietnam, which includes the construction of six patrol vessels for the Vietnam Coast Guard, funded by Japanese ODA loans, both sides noted that due to price fluctuations, the Vietnam Coast Guard is currently reviewing the ship designs to ensure costs remain within the approved budget. They expressed hope to continue working closely together to accelerate the project’s progress and enhance the Vietnam Coast Guard’s capacity in maritime law enforcement.

Concerning the training and capacity building project for the Vietnam Coast Guard in maritime law enforcement and security, both sides agreed that this year’s training courses in Vietnam will be held at the Coast Guard Region 3 Command from September 7 to 13, and at the Coast Guard Region 1 Command from December 7 to 13.

Lt. Gen. Le Quang Dao presents a souvenir to Kobayashi Yosuke.

Delegates in a joint photo

During the meeting, General Dao emphasized that the JICA Office and the Vietnam Coast Guard have developed a strong partnership, marked by effective and practical cooperation. He expressed hope that Kobayashi Yosuke, in his role as Head of the JICA Office in Vietnam, would continue to support and coordinate closely with the Vietnam Coast Guard moving forward, helping to resolve outstanding issues, enhance cooperation, and maintain momentum in joint initiatives.

Translated by Song Anh