A two-day meeting of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP) study group on security and safety of offshore oil and gas installations was held in the central city of Da Nang on Oct.7-8.

Participants at the workshop discussed challenges of the sector, especially during installation, operation and removal activities, and associated safety risks to the seaborne activities.

They also put forward measures to boost regional cooperation in order to ensure security and safety for oil rigs and offshore installations.

The workshop was jointly held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vientam and Singaporean and Australian CSCAP representatives.

The hosting of the workshop, held for the first time, highlighted Vietnam ’s role in CSCAP as well as in regional cooperation to ensure security and safety for offshore oil and gas installations, and maritime safety.

It is expected to help enhance Vietnam ’s prestige in dealing with regional and global issues, showing the country’s active involvement in the international integration process.

CSCAP was established on June 8, 1993 in Kuala Lumpur with the aim of building and boosting trust and security cooperation among regional countries and territories via an informal diplomatic channel between scholars and research institutes.

Since its establishment, the organisation has hosted many workshops and conducted significant research on regional security.

Recommendations of its study groups will be transferred to formal diplomatic channels, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, for policy-making considerations.

As a CSCAP member, Vietnam has implemented its duties with full responsibilities in the spirit of the CSCAP Charter.

In the past three years, Vietnam was appointed co-chair of the CSCAP study group on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and hosted three group meetings in Vietnam .

Vietnam has also proposed the establishment of study groups on water-source protection, the first meeting of which is expected to be held in early 2011./.