A Maritime Transport Working Group (MTWG) conference was held in Hanoi on March 9 and 10. Vietnam and ASEAN countries are to make efforts to maintain a safe seaport chain to cope with the lingering effects of the pandemic. The country has signed seven maritime and shipping agreements with ASEAN countries and six agreements on recognizing the professional qualifications of seamen under the 1978 STCW Convention (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping).