Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung adopted the maritime transport agreement between member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, the Vietnam News Agency reported Friday.

The agreement aims to facilitate and foster cooperation in passenger and cargo transport by sea among the signatories. It was signed by Transport Ministers of member countries of the ASEAN and China in Singapore in October 2007, according to the report.

The ASEAN-China maritime transport agreement will take effect once ratified by all the ASEAN member countries and China.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2009)