The Vietnam Customs delegation led by Mr. Dao Duc Hai - Director of the International Cooperation Department attended the APEC SCCP1 Meeting in Lima, Peru in March 2024.

Vietnam Customs has actively developed and proposed to competent agencies for approval of multi and bilateral cooperation projects, topics, and programs. Vietnam Customs has proposed to the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Prime Minister for approval of the project of Vietnam hosting the 33rd meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs in June in Phu Quoc; and developed a thematic report on the US container security initiative.

In addition, multilateral cooperation programs and projects have been implemented in line with the proposed plan, focusing on fulfilling membership obligations in multilateral institutions such as Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), World Customs Organization (WCO), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), ensuring Vietnam's interests.

Vietnam Customs has also closely monitored the internal and external situation to control and direct the management of the import, export, and transit of goods and means of transport across the border gate pairs of Vietnam - Cambodia, Vietnam - China, Vietnam - Laos.

In bilateral cooperation, Vietnam Customs has worked with many high-level experts of the US Customs within the framework of the Foreign Electronic Cargo Data Exchange Program (FECDEP). The country’s top customs regulator has submitted to the Ministry of Finance the plan for cooperation in combating customs offences with the Russian Federation Customs for 2024-2026, and discussed on contents and time for signing the plan. Vietnam Customs has worked with Sri Lanka to sign an agreement on customs cooperation and mutual assistance between the two governments; discussed with Indian Customs on negotiation of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on Authorized Economic Operator Program (AEO). At the same time, Vietnam Customs has prepared the necessary procedures to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on building customs capacity in the near future.

Vietnam Customs has worked with the Customs Administrations of the Netherlands, Japan, Korea on the cooperation plan in 2024 between the two Customs administrations and related programs. Notably, Vietnam Customs has developed a cooperation plan in 2024 with Chinese Customs to implement the cooperation contents in the Vietnam-China Joint Statement; considered the proposal of the working group of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on working and discussing with Vietnam Customs on building the smart border gate and facilitating customs clearance.

In multilateral cooperation, Vietnam Customs has fulfilled membership obligations in multilateral institutions such as ASEAN, WCO, and APEC...

Vietnam Customs has actively participated in the 7th negotiation session of the Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation Chapter of the ASEAN-Canada Agreement. The regulator has negotiated to upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (upgraded ATIGA), thereby, agreeing 17 of 22 articles and expecting to complete the negotiation in 2024. Key negotiated contents are mainly related to cooperation initiatives implemented in ASEAN such as the AEO mutual recognition agreement, exchange of electronic certificates through ASEAN Single Window, customs transit, and ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (upgraded ACFTA). Currently, 5 of 26 Articles of the CPTF Chapter have been agreed. Vietnam Customs has also assessed the Container Control Program at four Port Control Groups.

In the second quarter of 2024, Vietnam Customs has urgently completed plans and contents for successful organization of the 33rd meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs, which will be taken place in June.

Vietnam Customs has also participated in meetings, cooperation programs, and fulfilled membership obligations within the framework of ASEAN, APEC, WCO, GMS; monitored and exchanged information with relevant parties...; prepared contents, planned negotiation for the 8th negotiation session of ASEAN-Canada FTA.