HAIKOU -- Chinese and Vietnamese coast guards have completed their first joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf for 2025, the 29th joint patrol conducted by the two countries' maritime law enforcement agencies since 2006, the China Coast Guard (CCG) said Friday.

The three-day joint patrol wrapped up on Thursday, during which Chinese and Vietnamese coast guard ships observed and inspected fishing boats from both countries while patrolling along planned routes in the waters.

The two sides also carried out a joint maritime search and rescue exercise, enhancing bilateral coordination and emergency response capabilities, the CCG said.

Conducted twice a year, the joint patrols by the Chinese and Vietnamese coast guards in the Beibu Gulf have become a model for maritime law enforcement cooperation in the South China Sea, the CCG noted.

They have played a constructive role in conserving fishery resources, maintaining order in fishing activities, combating maritime crime, and promoting regional security and stability.