Vietnam - Malaysia cooperate to combat illegal fishing

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien recently had a working session with leaders of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Malaysia's administrative capital Putrajaya, aiming to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and sustainable fisheries development.

According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia, this activity is part of the process of cooperation and regular contact between the agricultural management agencies of the two countries over the past years, maintained and promoted by the Embassy, ​​to strengthen coordination in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This is also a specific step to implement the Prime Minister's direction on "Peak month to combat illegal fishing and sustainable development of Vietnam's fisheries industry" (Decision No. 2310/QD-TTg dated October 21, 2025).

Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien (top row, right) at a working session with leaders of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. (Photo: Embassy of Vietnam in Malaysia)

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to review and update the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two Ministries, and establish a tripartite information exchange mechanism between the fisheries agencies of the two countries and the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia, thereby enhancing coordination in fisheries management and handling of fishing vessels that violate regulations.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Dinh Ngoc Linh and Embassy staff supported the connection, creating favorable conditions for the two Ministries to have in-depth exchanges and build specific cooperation steps in the coming time.

The two sides also discussed investment opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises in the seafood sector in Malaysia, opening up the possibility of cooperation in processing, consumption and development of green and sustainable seafood value chains.

It is expected that the Joint Working Group between the two Ministries will hold its first meeting in early November 2025, aiming to concretize cooperation contents, contribute to enhancing policy dialogue, coordinate actions for the goal of developing responsible fisheries and removing the IUU "yellow card" warning of the European Union (EU).

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/viet-nam-malaysia-hop-tac-chong-khai-thac-hai-san-bat-hop-phap-217304.html