ASEAN welcomes Vietnam’s initiative on cohesive approach to maritime cooperation

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The workshop, themed "ASEAN's cohesive and responsive approach to maritime cooperation", was held both online and offline in Hanoi to mark the 10th anniversary of AMF. 

At the workshop, delegates welcomed Vietnam’s initiative to build a comprehensive, cohesive and responsive approach of ASEAN to maritime cooperation, thereby affirming the bloc’s solidarity and role in face of existing challenges. 

Since its establishment in 2010, the AMF provides a platform to promote dialogue, share information and enhance cooperation among agencies in the field. It is time for ASEAN to review maritime cooperation over the past decade and suggest orientations and measures to further boost cooperation in the coming time.

Within the workshop, delegates focused discussions on regional maritime cooperation in the new context, sharing of lessons and practices, and building a responsive and cohesive approach to the field.

According to the ASEAN Secretariat, maritime cooperation accounts for over 10 percent of lines of action in the ASEAN Political-Security Community 2025. 

Delegates agreed that the approach to maritime cooperation should be built on the basis of harmonizing national and regional priorities and interests, and their development plans. 

Some delegates suggested that ASEAN should continue stepping up collaboration in maritime connectivity and trade, sea environment protection, ensuring maritime security and safety, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance for people and vessels in distress at sea, preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, protecting livelihoods of coastal community, and maritime scientific research.

The workshop also highlighted the need to increase information sharing and coordination among agencies, and abide by international law, especially the UNCLOS.