Vietnam - Malaysia strengthen cooperation to combat illegal fishing

In an effort to combat illegal fishing, a Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien had a working session with leaders of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in the administrative capital Putrajaya, to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and sustainable fisheries development.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien (5th from left, front row), Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Dinh Ngoc Linh (4th from left, front row) take a photo with leaders of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Photo: Quang Hoan/VNA

According to the VNA correspondent in Malaysia, the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia said that this activity is within the framework of implementing the Prime Minister 's direction on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, especially the "Action Plan for the Peak Month to Combat Illegal Fishing and Sustainable Development of Vietnam's Fisheries Industry" issued in Decision No. 2310/QD-TTg dated October 21, 2025.

Also attending the meeting were Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Dinh Ngoc Linh and leaders of units under the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, including the Department of International Cooperation, Department of Food Security, Department of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries and Department of Veterinary Medicine.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to review, amend and supplement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two ministries on agricultural cooperation signed in April 2014, which emphasized cooperation on sustainable fisheries and combating IUU fishing. Notably, the two sides agreed to establish a tripartite information exchange mechanism between the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, and the Embassy of Vietnam in Malaysia, to promptly share information in fisheries management and handling of violating fishing vessels.

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: Quang Hoan/VNA

In addition to the IUU sector, the two sides also discussed measures to facilitate trade in agricultural, forestry and fishery products between the two countries; sought opportunities to support Vietnamese seafood enterprises to invest and cooperate in Malaysia and promote green, circular and sustainable agricultural cooperation initiatives in the region.

The two sides also discussed the possibility of investment cooperation between Vietnamese enterprises in the seafood sector in Malaysia, aiming to open up a new direction for the linkage of seafood production, processing and consumption between the two countries, towards a green and sustainable value chain.

It is expected that the Joint Working Group between the two ministries will hold its first meeting in early November, aiming to specify the 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://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/viet-nam-malaysia-tang-cuong-ket-noi-hop-tac-chong-khai-thac-hai-san-bat-hop-phap-20251029213106520.htm