HIGH LEVEL MEETING BETWEEN INDIAN AND VIETNAM COAST GUARD

Sr Col Pha Kim Hau with DG ICG Rajendra Singh

National Defence Bureau,

New Delhi, 29 May 2017

A four member delegation of the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) led by Senior Colonel Pham Kim Hau, Vice Commandant is on an official visit to India from 28-31 May 17.  A High Level Meeting (HLM) between the Indian and Vietnam Coast Guard was held at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi on  29 May 17 under the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two agencies in 2015.

Relations between the two Coast Guards go back a long way with ICG ships calling on ports in Vietnam for professional interactions since 2003.   This meeting and visit is in continuation of the efforts by the governments of the two countries to enhance cooperation between the two Coast Guards in the areas of maritime safety and security.

Indo Vietnam Defence Cooperation

In his visit to Coast Guard Headquarters, the Vice Commandant, VCG called on Director General Rajendra Singh, PTM, TM, DGICG and exchanged views on enhancing the institutionalized cooperation between the two agencies.  Subsequently, a HLM was held between the two agencies.  The Indian delegation for the HLM was led by Additional Director General VSR Murthy, PTM, TM.  The HLM focused on augmenting the operational level interaction and capacity building in areas of Search and Rescue, Pollution Response and Maritime Law Enforcement.

Further, both sides agreed to strengthen the mutual cooperation in accordance with the provisions of the MoU.  The ICG would partner the VCG in its capacity building and both services would enhance professional interaction through personnel exchange and ship visits. The VCG will also be considering a goodwill visit to India by one of its ships and has extended an invite for the next HLM to be held in Vietnam next year.  

The meeting was significant in providing added impetus to the already existing professional relationship between the two agencies.

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