United States Coast Guard ship Boutwell arrives in Shanghai on Thursday for a five-day port call. Activities are planned with local counterparts, including search and rescue and security issues. The visit is part of the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum, which was set up in 1999 and is comprised of Coast Guard-type agencies from China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Canada and the US. Boutwell is the first Coast Guard ship to visit Shanghai. [Photo: Shanghai Daily]

Even at times when they can't see eye to eye on economic and trade issues, China and the United States can still find common ground when it comes to law enforcement on the sea.

Visiting Vice Admiral Charles Wurster, commander of the Pacific Area and Defense Force West of US Coast Guard, was optimistic on Thursday when discussing expanding exchanges and relations with China.

"The purpose of my visit is to reinforce the areas that we already began cooperation," Wurster said.

The vice admiral was in Shanghai, where he joined the USCG's cutter Boutwell, on a port call there until August 20.

It will take part in law enforcement exchanges with Chinese counterparts in the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum (NPCGF).

Local residents will also have a chance to board the 378-foot cutter.

Wurster said the NPCGF, set up in 1999, is one of the most successful multilateral and bilateral coast guard forums in the world.

He said the US and other organizations are considering a similar one for the Atlantic.

The forum includes members from China, the US, Japan, Russia, Canada and South Korea.

Meetings between experts are held annually to share information on how to successfully combat issues such as drug trafficking, marine security, fisheries enforcement and illegal immigration.

In coming days, Wurster will meet Chinese officials from the Ministry of Public Security and other relevant authorities.

Wurster said the relationship between the US Coast Guard and Chinese counterparts was not subject to political factors.
"We have continuing visits and professional exchanges," he said.

The US Coast Guard has provided data to Chinese search vessels in the North Pacific.

Sequoia, a small US Coast Guard Cutter, was the first USCG vessel to visit China last year.

A couple of weeks later, Honolulu-based Rush, a much larger USCG cutter with 168 crew, visited Qingdao.

Last October, an NPCGF summit was held in Sanya, Hainan Island, where six nations agreed to intensify coordination and consultation in maritime law enforcement.

Since 1980, USCG engineers have conducted equipment inspection visits to Chinese shipyards, major manufactures of the world's marine vessels.