Vietnam, Thailand Vow to Strengthen Cooperation in Different Spheres
	Friendship Associations of Vietnam, Thailand Boost Cooperation

With the goal of promoting bilateral cooperation on maritime security and safety in order to maintain peace and stability in the region on the basis of international law, benefiting both sides, the Vietnam Coast Guard and Thai-MECC have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Law Enforcement Cooperation. The signing ceremony officially marked a new beginning of the close and comprehensive cooperation between the two sides.

The MoU mentions specific contents and scope of cooperation, including cooperation in sharing information on smuggling and illegal immigration; preventing and suppressing illegal, undeclared, and unregulated fishing activities; search and rescue activities at sea; visits of ships of the two forces. It also clearly delineates the responsibilities and powers of each party in the implementation process.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Conference between the Vietnam Coast Guard and Thai-MECC on cooperation in law enforcement at sea was held on August 29 in Hanoi (Photo: QDND).

Speaking at the conference, Major General Le Quang Dao affirmed that the MoU resulted from the unremitting efforts and determination to maintain exchanges and negotiations of the two sides. It is a solid mechanism and foundation for cooperation activities between the two forces to further develop in both breadth and depth, especially in the field of maritime law enforcement.

Thailand has succeeded in persuading the European Commission (EC) to remove the yellow card for Thailand's fisheries industry in 2019, in the issue of preventing and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The MoU between the two sides is the legal basis for demonstrating Vietnam's efforts and goodwill to solve a similar situation and learn from Thailand's experience in this matter.

In response, Admiral Adoong Pan-Iam, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy, Deputy Director of Thai-MECC emphasized that the Vietnam Coast Guard is a reliable partner of Thai-MECC and an important partner in Southeast Asia in ensuring maritime security and safety. Based on MoU, the two sides will implement many effective and substantive cooperation activities in the future, he exclaimed.

The leaders of the two sides agreed that the MoU will become a tool and corridor to enhance mutual understanding. It is an important milestone that opens a deeper and more comprehensive chapter of cooperation in the relationship between the two sides, especially in the field of cooperation in law enforcement at sea, contributing to preserving the sea area in the region of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation and development.

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