According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Philippines news, upholding the rule of the law in the South China Sea and the revival of the joint marine scientific research expedition, which has been halted since 2007, were among the highlights of the 9th Philippines-Viet Nam Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns (JPWG-MOC) held on 08 November 2021 via video conference.
The Philippines and Viet Nam discussed various initiatives for science-based cooperation particularly on marine scientific research, marine environment protection, and hydrometeorology in the 9th JPWG-MOC. Both delegations also substantively covered other issues, including coordination within regional and international fora, fisheries, and maritime security cooperation.
The JPWG-MOC is the main platform for dialogue and coordination, practical cooperation, and capacity-building activities among maritime agencies of the Philippines and Viet Nam.
The Philippine delegation was led by DFA – Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce, while the delegation of Viet Nam was led by National Boundary Committee (NBC) Vice Chairman Nguyễn Mạnh Đông.
Convened annually, the last JPWG-MOC was held in 2019. The JPWG-MOC is a specialized mechanism established under the Philippines-Viet Nam Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC). END