8-12-2023 (HANOI) The China Coast Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard held their seventh high-level working meeting, where they reached a consensus on collaborating to combat maritime crimes, further solidifying the traditional friendship between the two nations, deepening practical maritime cooperation, and jointly maintaining maritime security and stability.
According to a statement from the China Coast Guard’s official WeChat account on Friday (December 8), the meeting took place in Guangzhou, China, from December 4 to 8, and included the visit of Vietnam Coast Guard Ship 8002.
The meeting was co-chaired by Director Yu Zhong of the China Coast Guard and Commander Le Quang Dao of the Vietnam Coast Guard. Representatives from both sides, including leaders in maritime zones, and personnel involved in political work, operations, law enforcement, and international cooperation attended the meeting.
Following the discussions, the Vietnamese Coast Guard delegation visited the China Coast Guard offices in Guangzhou and Shanghai. During the meeting, both sides evaluated the results of their cooperation during the year, discussed directives for strengthening maritime law enforcement cooperation, and decided to establish a mechanism for political work exchange.
The two Coast Guards agreed to explore the potential for joint patrols in the Gulf of Tonkin, create a cooperation brand through the “Young Officers Exchange,” establish a maritime-level communication hotline, and coordinate efforts to combat maritime crimes. These measures aim to further strengthen the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, deepen practical maritime cooperation, prudently handle maritime emergencies, and jointly maintain maritime security and stability.
In coordination with the meeting and to enhance interaction between the vessels, Vietnam Coast Guard Ship 8002 visited Guangzhou from December 4 to 8. The visit included welcoming and farewell ceremonies, joint exercises, cultural exchanges, mutual ship visits, professional and technical exchanges, and a shipboard reception.
China and Vietnam have recently intensified their maritime cooperation. During his visit to Vietnam in early December, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the need for both countries to actively promote mutually beneficial maritime cooperation, prevent interference from external forces, and ensure the South China Sea remains a sea of peace and cooperation.
During the visit, both nations conducted their second joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin from November 29 to December 1, enhancing their maritime cooperation in the region.
