Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)workshop on enhancing maritime law enforcement was opened in Nha Trang city,the central province of Khanh Hoa, on January 18 with a view to boostingdialogue to ensure maritime security in the region.

The two-day event is the first activity toimplement the ARF Ministerial Statement on Enhancing Cooperation among MaritimeLaw Enforcement Agencies. It is organised by Vietnam’s Ministry of ForeignAffairs, Australia and the EU, attracting nearly 80 delegates from 22 countriesand international organisations.

Addressing the event, Deputy Foreign MinisterNguyen Quoc Dung mentioned the settlement of challenges to maritime law and order,including the surge of piracy, drug and human trafficking, and illegal,unreported and unregulated fishing. 

He also underscored the role of maritime lawenforcement forces and the necessity for these agencies to cooperate tocontrol, prevent and respond to those challenges.

Participants in the workshop talked aboutmaritime security challenges in the region and the need for strongercooperation among maritime law enforcement agencies. They also reviewedmaritime law enforcement cooperation in Asia-Pacific and the cooperationprinciples, scope and measures for the agencies.

They stressed that seas are the artery ofinternational trade, the natural resource for economic development of coastalcountries, and the livelihood of coastal residents. Therefore, ensuringmaritime security, safety and stability is crucial, especially for thecountries and people in the Asian-Pacific region.

Aside from traditional security issues liketerritorial and maritime disputes, more and more non-traditional security challengeshave appeared in seas and oceans, including illegal fishing, destroyed marineenvironment and ecosystem, and maritime crimes.

Participants shared the view that lawenforcement cooperation in the region is part of efforts to ensure maritimesecurity and safety, especially under ASEAN-led mechanisms. However, thereremain obstacles to cooperation in this field such as countries’ differentmechanisms on maritime law enforcement forces, and maritime and territorialdisputes.

They said mutual trust is the prerequisite forgood cooperation among maritime law enforcement forces, and this trust is builtbasing on measures devised at the ARF and other regional mechanisms.

Founded in 1994, the ARF aims to build trust andfoster dialogue in the region with ASEAN at the centre. Twenty-seven countriesand international organisations have taken part in this forum.-VNA