Two Vietnamese naval boats, the HQ375 and HQ376, led by Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Colonel Nguyen Van Kiem, and two PLAN boats, 755 and 733, led by Nanhai Fleet Colonel Liang Shanguo, began the two-day joint petrol at 8am on June 19 (Hanoi time) with a journey of more than 300 nautical miles along the delimitated waters that border Vietnam and China in the Tonkin Gulf. 

The patrol was intended to maintain security and order at sea, supervise fishing vessels’ activities and ensure that the Agreement on Fishing Cooperation in the Tokin Gulf and the Agreement on Delimitation of the Tonkin Gulf signed between the Vietnamese and Chinese Governments was being carried out.

The patrol also aimed to stabilise normal production activities of the two countries’ fishermen in the Tonkin Gulf, to share experiences between the two navies and promote the friendship between the two navies, armies and peoples.

Colonel Kiem affirmed that the 11^th joint patrol reflected the development of the traditional neighbouring cooperative relationship and the enhancement of mutual understanding and trust between the two armies and navies.

Respecting the previously signed agreements is one of the factors to promote the two countries’ friendly neighbouring relationship and ensure stability and security at sea.