Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien held working talks with leaders of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia, aiming to promote cooperation between the two countries in the agricultural sector and sustainable fisheries development.
According to a report by the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Malaysia, the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia stated that this activity was part of the implementation of the Prime Minister's guidance on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, particularly within the framework of Resolution 2310/QĐ-TTg, "Implementation Plan of the Action Month for Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Promoting Sustainable Development of Vietnamese Fisheries."
During the talks, both sides agreed to establish a joint working group to review, revise, and supplement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Agricultural Cooperation signed by the two ministries in April 2014, with a focus on strengthening cooperation in sustainable fisheries and combating IUU.
Notably, both sides agreed to establish a tripartite information exchange mechanism comprising the Fisheries Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Fisheries and Fisheries Inspection Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia, to facilitate timely information sharing on fisheries management and the handling of illegal fishing vessels.
In addition to combating IUU (Illegal Usage and Safety) issues, the two sides also discussed measures to facilitate trade in agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products between the two countries; explored opportunities to support Vietnamese seafood enterprises in investing and cooperating in Malaysia; and promoted regional green, circular, and sustainable agricultural cooperation initiatives.
The two sides also exchanged views on the investment potential of Vietnamese enterprises in the Malaysian fisheries sector, hoping to open up new avenues of cooperation in seafood production, processing, and marketing, moving towards a green and sustainable value chain.
The joint working group of the two ministries is expected to hold its first meeting in early November, aiming to concretize the cooperation content, contribute to strengthening policy dialogue and coordinated action, thereby jointly promoting responsible fisheries development and helping Vietnam to lift the EU's "IUU yellow card warning" as soon as possible. (End)
