Ministry of Transport delegation attends the 11th ASEAN Search and Rescue Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

From August 14-15, 2024, a delegation from the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, led by Mr. Nguyen Hoang, Deputy Administrator of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, participated in the 11th ASEAN Search and Rescue Forum (ATSF11) held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The delegation also engaged with Cambodian authorities regarding bilateral cooperation in search and rescue and port management. Accompanying the delegation were representatives from the Department of Infrastructure, the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Transport; the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre; Can Tho Maritime Administration; Kien Giang Maritime Administration; and the Aviation Search and Rescue Coordination Center.

ATSF11 was chaired by Cambodia, with Indonesia serving as Vice-Chair, and was attended by the ASEAN Secretariat and representatives from all ten ASEAN member states. The forum covered nine agenda items.

During the forum, the ASEAN Secretariat reported on developments and subsequent actions related to the 56th and 57th ASEAN Senior Transport Officials' Meetings (STOM), the 29th ASEAN Transport Ministers' Meeting (ATM), and other relevant ASEAN bodies. The report included updates on the Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP) End-of-Term Evaluation, the development of the AEC 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, the ASEAN Transport Action Plan post-2025, and other relevant sectoral strategies beyond 2025. The forum also discussed the progress of activities under the ATSF Action Plan, with countries updating their internal ratification processes following the signing of the ASEAN Agreement on cooperation in aviation and maritime search and rescue.

The Vietnamese delegation participated in discussions about the progress of the ATSF Action Plan, highlighting Vietnam's role in leading regular joint search and rescue drills to enhance decision-making skills and command capabilities. These drills are scheduled to take place at the next ATSF forum in 2025.

Regarding the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on aviation and maritime search and rescue, the Vietnamese delegation provided an update on the ongoing ratification process and committed to meeting the agreed timelines. Vietnam also expressed a desire to implement regular communication drills, including the use of alternative communication methods to manage communication overload during major search and rescue operations.

Additionally, the Vietnamese delegation actively engaged in discussions on agenda item 7 presented by Indonesia, which focused on aviation and maritime search and rescue operations and regional search and rescue drills, particularly concerning aviation search and rescue scenarios.

On the sidelines of ATSF11, the Vietnamese delegation held a working session with Cambodian authorities to discuss bilateral cooperation in search and rescue and port management. Mr. Nhem Savong, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Maritime Transport, Inland Waterways, and Ports under the Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transport, attended the meeting.

During the meeting, both parties explored each country's organizational models related to search and rescue and port management, shared experiences, and expressed a desire to seek future bilateral cooperation opportunities in these areas./.

Heads of delegations of ASEAN countries attending the ATSF11 Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia take a souvenir photo

Mr. Nguyen Hoang, Deputy Administrator of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, Head of the Vietnamese delegation at ATSF11

Vietnamese delegation attending the ATSF11 Forum

The delegation works with relevant Cambodian authorities on bilateral cooperation in the fields of search and rescue and port state management

The two sides exchange souvenirs