December 18, 2021 | 19:00 (GMT+7)
Vietnamese, Thai Navies to foster coordination in joint patrol
PANO – Chief of the Vietnam People’s Navy Rear Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem held a phone talk with his Thai counterpart Admiral Somprasong Nilsamai on December 17 at the Department of Foreign Relations of the Ministry of National Defense.
During the phone conversation, Rear Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem said that the two countries’ signing and implementation of a joint agreement on coordination regulations on joint patrol along the shared sea border and establishment of communication channel in 1999 have become a model in cooperation between navies in the region.
According to Vietnamese Naval Chief, the two navies have so far conducted 44 joint patrol sessions along their shared sea border and effectively maintained the bilateral naval consultation mechanism. Annually, the two sides alternately hold meetings to exchange information of mutual concern.
During the talk, the two commanders affirmed that the cooperation between Vietnamese and Thai navies have developed intensively, sustainably, and practically, contributing to maintaining security, order, peace, and stability in bordering sea areas. In addition, the two sides have supported each other at multilateral activities, especially within the ASEAN Navy Chiefs' Meeting (ANCM).
For his part, the Commander of the Royal Thai Navy thanked Rear Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem for spending time exchanging bilateral cooperation contents. He agreed on Vietnam’s proposal to foster cooperation after the COVID-19 pandemic is under control. In particular, Vietnam has suggested the two sides promoting cooperation activities, including delegation exchanges, visits of patrol ships to each other’s ports, knowledge and experience sharing meetings, and the second bilateral Naval Consultation in Thailand.
During the phone talk, the two commanders agreed to continue carrying out the coordination regulations on joint patrol and establishment of communication channel in the coming time. Hydrographic units of the two sides will continue implementing reached agreements and report on their outcomes to their naval commanders.
Translated by Tran Hoai