The information was released at a conference to review international cooperation on search and rescue in the period 2006-17, held on January 18 by the Ministry of National Defense.
    |
 |
|
Troops in a search and rescue excercise |
The event was chaired by the Chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee for Response to Incidents and Natural Disasters and Search and Rescue (NSCRINDSR), Director of the Search and Rescue Department under the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Major General Truong Duc Nghia.
Reports delivered at the conference read, over the past 10 years, the defense search and rescue sector has actively supported the Government in directing all forces to deal with incidents and natural disasters and conduct search and rescue operations.
At the same time, the sector also provided good advice and recommendations to the NSCRINDSR and the Government to complete legal documents facilitating international cooperation on response to natural disasters, search and rescue.
It directly led and deployed forces to international cooperation activities, such as joining the international search and rescue mission for missing aircraft MH-370 of the Malaysia Airlines in 2014, conducting a number of search and rescue operations to deal with incidents of foreign vessels in Vietnam’s waters, forming Vietnam’s international humanitarian, search and rescue teams, conducting exchanges and drills on search and rescue with ASEAN countries and China, Russia, Japan, the US, Australia, India and the Republic of Korea.
In general, international cooperation on natural disaster relief and search and rescue has been conducted effectively by the defense search and rescue sector, contributing to protecting national defense, national interests and reducing losses caused by incidents and natural disasters, over the past years.
In the period of 2018-20, the Ministry of National Defense will strive to well implement its function as the standing agency of the NSCRINDSR, promote coordination with ministries, Central agencies and localities to complete the legal framework and working mechanisms for international cooperation, give recommendations to the Government on building a governmental decree on international cooperation regarding search and rescue activities.
At the same time, the ministry will direct relevant defense agencies and units to expand cooperation with foreign partners on search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, promote information exchange, open training courses on professional knowledge and skills, foreign languages, and actively participate in international drills on search and rescue.
Translated by Thu Nguyen