The event was co-chaired by Major General Le Quang Dao, Chief of the Vietnam Coast Guard Command and Vice Admiral Aan Kurnia, Commander of the Indonesian Coast Guard.
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Major General Le Quang Dao (right) and Vice Admiral Aan Kurnia at the meeting |
At the exchange, leaders of the two forces agreed that the Vietnamese and Indonesian coast guard forces have maintained a good cooperative relationship. In December 2021, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in maritime security cooperation between the Vietnamese and Indonesian coast guard forces in an online form. This is an important milestone opening up a deeper and more comprehensive cooperation chapter in the relationship between the two forces.
With the aim of promoting bilateral cooperation, the two sides have regularly exchanged information related to arising issues at sea and actively participated in bilateral and multilateral meetings. From June 7 to 9, 2022, the Vietnam Coast Guard sent officers to attend the 11th online maritime security tabletop drill, co-organized by Australia and the Indonesian Coast Guard. From July 13 to 16, 2022, the Vietnam Coast Guard’s personnel took part in the 14th round of negotiations on exclusive economic zone demarcation between Vietnam and Indonesia in Indonesia.
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Major General Le Quang Dao (right) handing a souvenir to Vice Admiral Aan Kurnia at the meeting |
The two sides also sent officials to the 12th Maritime Law Enforcement Dialogue organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the Philippines from June 28 to July 2, 2022. Most recently, representatives of the Vietnam Coast Guard joined the Meeting of Heads of ASEAN Coast Guard and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies in Bali, Indonesia from November 22 to 23, 2022, hosted by the Indonesian Coast Guard.
At the meeting, the two sides expressed their wish to continue promoting international cooperation in a practical and effective manner to enhance maritime security and safety in the region on the basis of equality and mutual benefits, contributing to preserving peace, stability, friendship, cooperation, and development in waters in the region.
Regarding the direction of cooperation in the coming time, leaders of the two coast guard forces agreed to continue maintaining regular exchanges to promptly share information about law enforcement at sea, especially the situation of fishing vessels violating regulations on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
They also consented that the two sides should actively participate in multilateral conferences and seminars to which both forces are members. As planned, in 2023, the two sides will hold the second bilateral meeting in Indonesia.
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Vietnamese and Indonesian delegates posing for a joint photo |
Regarding key cooperation activities between the two forces in the coming time, the Vietnam Coast Guard suggested that the two sides should focus on visits and exchanges of their coast guard ships. This is a cooperation content in the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in maritime security and safety between the Vietnamese and the Indonesian coast guard forces.
Translated by Tran Hoai