KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia has expressed its hopes for Vietnam to resume the Joint Working Committee (JWC) in order to address critical issues related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Chan Foong Hin stated that Malaysia is eager to restart the JWC, as it aims to tackle IUU problems and explore potential collaborations between the two countries. He shared this during a bilateral meeting with Vietnam’s Hoang Trung on July 19, which coincided with the official visit of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a statement released on Saturday (July 22), Chan explained that the JWC was established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in April 2014, with Malaysia hosting the first JWC in 2015. He expressed Malaysia’s anticipation for an invitation from Vietnam to convene the 2nd JWG Meeting Malaysia-Vietnam on Agriculture Cooperation later this year, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship.
During the bilateral meeting, both parties acknowledged the importance of convening the second meeting of the JWC, emphasizing the significance of achieving sustainable fisheries and effective fisheries management within their respective jurisdictions and on the high seas. Chan reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in combating IUU fishing, particularly when it involves destructive fishing practices.
To promote responsible fishing practices among Malaysian fishermen, Chan stated that the use of proper navigational and communication devices, such as GPS, Mobile Tracking units, and the Automatic Identification System (AIS), is actively encouraged. These devices not only assist fishermen in their activities but also help prevent unintentional encroachment into the territorial waters of other nations. Chan also called on foreign vessels operating in the region to adopt similar measures to avoid unintentional infringements in Malaysian waters.
Furthermore, Chan highlighted that bilateral cooperation in addressing IUU fishing aligns with Vietnam’s objective to remove the European Commission (EC) yellow card on their fisheries products. He emphasized that the JWC platform will not only strengthen bilateral cooperation but also reinforce diplomatic ties. Malaysia has also proposed new areas of cooperation, particularly in technical collaboration on coffee cultivation, considering Vietnam’s position as the world’s second-largest producer of coffee.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
