MANILA, Jan. 31 -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) signed an agreement on the establishment of a hotline to boost communication between the two maritime security groups.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed during the state visit to Vietnam on Tuesday by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., PCG Chief, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, and other government officials, the PCG said in a news release on Wednesday.

Marcos and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong witnessed the signing of the agreement by Gavan and VCG commander Maj. Gen. Le Quang Dao.

The MOU seeks to strengthen the "understanding, mutual trust, and confidence" between the PCG and VCG through the discussion of common issues and interests an...