Vietnamese, Cambodian coast guards benefit from hotline communication mechanism

At the meeting (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Coast Guard and theCambodia National Committee for Maritime Security met in Hanoi on October 4 todiscuss their hotline mechanism, which has helped them sustaincontacts despite COVID-19.

The meeting, the third of its kind, was co-chaired by SeniorColonel Vu Trung Kien, deputy commander in charge of law of the Vietnam CoastGuard Command and Vice Admiral Tea Sokha, Deputy Chief of the Navy and head ofthe Cambodian National Committee’s Front-line Tactical Command.

Assessing the implementation of their signed protocol on themechanism over the past time, Kien said due to complicated COVID-19 situationsin 2020 and 2021, the sides could not perform a number of activities under the pact.

However, via the hotline, they kept active communicationsregarding their territorial waters, fishermen, and Vietnam’s patrol andinspection around the bordering sea area to tackle Illegal, unreported, andunregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

The Vietnamese side proposed increasing bilateralcoordination for information exchange, and handling of issues and incidents at sea, which wasagreed by the Cambodian side.

Participants pose for a group photo (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Tea Sokha said Vietnamese and Cambodianfishermen have basically adhered to the law of the countries, adding that a number ofviolations were recorded in illegal fishing and smuggling.

Highlighting the importance of their cooperation, the sidesagreed to push ahead with the implementation of the protocol, share information on anti-IUU-fishing, supportVietnamese and Cambodian fishermen at sea, and exchange delegations annually.

The fourth meeting is slated for the third quarter of 2023./.

VNA