Joint measures to improve maritime safety and the marine environment are set to be introduced by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Liu Gongchen, deputy director of the China Maritime Safety Administration, said yesterday that a series of agreements on maritime cooperation on all sides will soon be reached.

He spoke after China and eight ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam attended the first meeting of China-ASEAN Maritime Consultation Mechanism, which opened yesterday in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province.

Agreements on a range of issues which include port state control, environmental protection, navigation and hydrographic surveys, seafarers training and accident investigation, will be signed following the discussion, Liu said.

The mechanism was initiated early in October 2003 when China's Minister of Communications Zhang Chunxian attended the China-ASEAN Communication Ministerial Forum in Myanmar.

Leaders hope port state control cooperation will help eliminate substandard ships and enhance navigation safety for ships in the region.

In addition, both sides will establish an expertise-exchange mechanism, sending port state control officers to each other to share experience in the maritime sector.

China and ASEAN will also improve cooperation on search and rescue at sea by jointly holding drills, to enhance emergency responses and fight against sea terrorism and piracy.

On the cooperation of seafarers training, China and ASEAN will strengthen communication between maritime training institutes from all sides through the exchange of teaching staff and students, mutual recognition of training courses and certification.

The maritime cooperation between China and ASEAN has been enhanced to mutually benefit all sides in recent years.

In 2004, China and the Philippines held joint maritime search and rescue drills in Beijing and Manila, and later in April this year, both sides signed a memorandum of understanding about maritime cooperation.

(China Daily December 15, 2005)