ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting on Maritime Security opens in Da Nang

The 11th ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Meeting on Maritime Security (ARF ISM-MS) opened in the central city of Da Nang on March 14 with the participation of more than 80 delegates from 27 ARF countries and experts from international organisations.

The annual meeting, held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam in collaboration with the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the European Commission, aims to review maritime security situation as well as cooperation activities within the ARF, and giving recommendations and initiatives for the next period.

At the event, participants are exchanging their opinions on the regional maritime security, including outcomes of cooperation and challenges, as well as efficiency of current relevant mechanisms.

They are also sharing information on policies and measures applied at the national level, while discussing various matters related to maritime safety, sea environment and sustainable development.

A number of reports on activities carried out in the mid-term year are being released, including the ARF conference on implementation of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 and other legal documents for the settlement of emerging maritime challenges that was jointly held by Vietnam and Australia on February 26-27 2019, and another ARF conference on strengthening cooperation in law enforcement at sea on March 12-13 in Da Nang.

As scheduled, the delegates will debate and approve new initiatives and add them into the ARF plan of actions in the 2019-2020 period.

Established in 1994, the ARF aims to promote dialogue and cooperation among member countries in politics-security, thus contributing to peace, stability and trust-building process in the region.

Currently, the forum has 27 member states and organisations. Vietnam, Australia and the EU are co-chairs of the ARF ISM-MS in the 2018-2020 period.

The 11th ARF ISM-MS will run through March 15.-VNA