The Vietnam Department of Maritime Police will cooperate with its Asian counterparts in implementing the Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships outside Vietnam’s water territories.

The Vietnam News Agency reported that a decision dated January 17 by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on implementing the agreement states that the cooperation would have to comply with the Vietnamese and international laws and the agreement as well.

Under the decision, the Department of Maritime Police, the Navy Force and the Air Defence-Air Force Department are responsible for combating piracy and armed robbery against ships.

Ships operating on the sea under the management of ministries, agencies and localities are required to inform the above-said agencies of suspected incidents of piracy and robbery.