The Viet Nam Administration of Seas and Islands exchanged expertise with Japanese experts on maritime domain awareness, technology, and ocean governance.
On the afternoon of August 27 in Hanoi, the Viet Nam Administration of Seas and Islands (VASI) hosted a courtesy meeting with a delegation of Japanese experts and representatives from the Embassy of Japan to share experience and exchange views on policies and technologies related to Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).
The exchange on MDA is expected to help expand cooperation from policy dialogue to the sharing of experience and technological solutions, while strengthening marine and ocean governance capacity. Photo: Truong Giang.Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director General, chaired the meeting, with representatives from relevant units under the VASI. The Japanese delegation included Fujii Kiyotaka, Deputy Director of the Ocean Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Office of Japan; Nakagane Kohei, Deputy Director of the Ocean Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Office of Japan; Kato Tetsuro, First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam; and representatives of Japanese technology companies.
Sharing experience in maritime domain awareness
At the meeting, the Japanese side introduced several topics and shared experience on MDA, focusing on approaches to organizing, processing and utilizing information to support maritime domain awareness.
MDA is among the areas of mutual interest in bilateral cooperation on marine and ocean policies. The information and experience shared during the meeting provide useful references for Viet Nam’s management of natural resources and the environment in general, and marine and island resources in particular, especially as the country promotes sustainable development of the marine economy.
Over the years, Viet Nam and Japan have maintained various exchanges, dialogues and experience-sharing activities on marine and ocean governance. The Viet Nam-Japan Marine Policy Dialogue Forum is an important mechanism for implementing the Memorandum of Cooperation on marine and ocean policy between Viet Nam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Cabinet Office of Japan, signed on October 8, 2018.
Since 2023, the two sides have taken turns hosting the dialogue. In 2023, the first Viet Nam-Japan Marine and Ocean Policy Dialogue was held in Hanoi to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Japan. In 2024, the dialogue took place in Tokyo, alongside a working program of the VASI with several Japanese agencies and organizations responsible for marine management.
In 2025, the dialogue in Hanoi focused on the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment, offshore wind power and marine plastic waste management.
According to the plan, the 2026 Viet Nam-Japan Marine and Ocean Policy Dialogue is expected to take place in Tokyo in the fourth quarter, focusing on the marine economy, Blue Carbon, BBNJ and other ocean-related issues, with participation at the ministerial leadership level.
Expanding cooperation on marine technology and data
Drawing on practical cooperation, many of Japan’s marine management approaches, models and technologies are considered valuable references for Viet Nam. Notably, these include maritime information storage and sharing systems (MDA and MSIL), the application of advanced technologies, particularly robotics; pilot investment and development of offshore wind power within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ); and Japan’s experience in managing marine plastic waste.
Viet Nam, Japan collaborate on maritime governance. Photo: VASI.Going forward, the two sides are expected to strengthen information exchange and share experience in marine and ocean governance to support the implementation of Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW, dated July 28, 2026, on building and developing Viet Nam into a strong maritime nation.
Proposed areas of cooperation include the green marine economy, marine spatial planning, marine resource surveys and monitoring, offshore wind power development, and marine environmental protection.
Another important area of cooperation is strengthening capacity for developing the green marine economy, promoting sustainable development of the marine economy, advancing marine spatial planning, and implementing master plans for the sustainable exploitation and use of coastal resources. The two sides could also develop cooperation proposals on scientific research, measurement, monitoring, surveys, field studies and assessments of marine resources, while strengthening survey and assessment capacity to support offshore wind power projects.
On technology and marine environmental protection, Viet Nam proposed enhancing support for transferring technologies and equipment for marine monitoring and environmental protection, as well as promoting cooperation in managing and controlling land-based and marine sources of pollution, including plastic waste. In particular, the two sides could explore support for developing online management systems and databases on land-based sources of pollution discharged into the sea.
In addition, training and the transfer of new equipment and technologies for baseline surveys, integrated management of marine and island resources and the environment have also been identified as areas for further cooperation.
Building on a cooperation framework developed over many years, expanded exchanges on MDA, monitoring technologies, databases, baseline surveys and integrated management of marine resources and the environment are expected to deliver more concrete and practical outcomes, contributing to stronger resource management, environmental protection and sustainable development of Viet Nam’s marine economy.