Vietnam attends conference on anti-piracy and terrorism at sea

The workshop attracted the participation of 64 delegates from 10 ASEAN member countries.

In his opening remarks, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia Shahidan Kassim stressed the need for ASEAN member countries to conduct joint maritime exercises and coordination activities to improve law enforcement and curb maritime piracy and terrorism. Through these activities, countries in the region will promote cooperation, identify and address weaknesses in law enforcement mechanisms, including the lack of a deep understanding of international law.

Vietnamese delegation at the ASEAN Workshop on combating piracy and terrorism at sea. Photo: vietnamplus.vn.

Mr. Shahidan also emphasized the need to promote cooperation and establish a focal point network among ASEAN countries to share information and accelerate the implementation of existing mutual assistance agreements in criminal matters. ASEAN member countries also need to develop standard operating procedures to help speed up decision-making and timely response in all situations.

At the workshop, delegates focused on discussing key issues related to providing updated information on piracy occurring in the adjacent waters of ASEAN member countries; exchanging knowledge and experience in law enforcement in each country in the fight against piracy as well as establishing anti-terrorism links; establishing connections and promoting cooperation between law enforcement agencies of ASEAN member countries.

In her presentation at the workshop on the afternoon of February 25, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Thi Kim Nguyet, Deputy Head of the Multilateral Cooperation Department, Department of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, said that maritime security in the region is increasingly complicated with increasingly serious pirate attacks, with an increasing trend, seriously affecting regional security.

In this situation, ASEAN member countries need to increase the sharing of intelligence information and experience related to anti-piracy and anti-terrorism activities; organize capacity building programs on anti-piracy and anti-terrorism for member countries; provide English training for relevant officials; and further strengthen joint exercises on anti-piracy and anti-terrorism at sea.

Speaking to VNA reporters, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyet said that Vietnamese authorities have been proactive in preventing terrorism and piracy, strengthening cooperation with countries in the region such as establishing a hotline with the Philippines, preparing to establish a hotline with China and Cambodia, organizing many conferences and seminars in localities on combating terrorism at sea and armed piracy, sharing information, experience and discussing measures to prevent piracy.

In addition, officers and soldiers from agencies such as the Anti-Terrorism Department, Provincial and Municipal Police, Fire Prevention and Fighting Police, Regional Military Command, Border Guard, Maritime Administration, Seaports... participated in anti-piracy and anti-terrorism drills at sea, focusing on coordination mechanisms and measures to handle situations such as negotiating hostage release, fire fighting, rescue, arresting pirates and terrorists.

The workshop was organized by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency./.

According to VNA