The Japan Coast Guard has provided its Vietnamese counterpart with training to strengthen maritime security. Vietnam has been facing territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.

16 Vietnamese Coast Guard officials took part in Tuesday's program in the central province of Quang Nam.

The training focused on arrest techniques--demonstrated by officials from Japan, to deal with the increasing number of illegal fishing boats operating in the South China Sea.

Suzuki Motonori of Japan Coast Guard said, "The waters around Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, are extremely important for Japan." He added, "We'd like to strengthen cooperation, not only with Vietnam but also with other countries."

Japan has provided pre-used patrol vessels to Vietnam and agreed to donate six new models to bolster cooperation.