Maritime transport is one of the fields where extensive cooperation exists between Vietnam and the ASEAN community, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Xuan Sang told the 44th ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group (MTWG 44) meeting in central Da Nang city from May 9-11.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the ten ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), ASEAN’s dialogue partners, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the US, and ASEAN’s regional associations.

Vietnam has signed bilateral maritime and shipping agreements with ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Myanmar, to create favorable conditions for shipping activities, Mr. Sang said.

It has also signed agreements with countries in the region, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar, and Thailand, to recognize the professional qualifications of seafarers under the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

Vietnam’s cooperation in ASEAN over recent years has not only helped facilitate maritime shipping activities but also opened the door for Vietnam’s seafarer market, according to Mr. Sang.