Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Dinh Ngoc Linh grants an interview to Bernama (Photo: VNA) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The Malaysian nationalnews agency Bernama on January 15 published an interview with VietnameseAmbassador to Malaysia Dinh Ngoc Linh, under the headline "Vietnam, Malaysiato forge stronger defence, security ties after golden anniversary”.
Thearticle wrote that Vietnam and Malaysia are intensifying their collaboration indefence and security in fostering regional peace and stability – a commitment whichemphasises the significance of the 50th anniversary celebrationsobserved in 2023.
AmbassadorLinh underscored the importance of close cooperation between the two nations intoday’s complex geopolitical dynamics.
Heexpressed confidence in the potential of further strengthening ties, especiallyafter a recent diplomatic engagement in which both countries renewed theMemorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation that expired in 2018.
Thediplomat noted that both countries are poised to strengthen their defence andsecurity cooperation within the ASEAN framework. The commitment extends topromoting ASEAN-led mechanisms that play a central role in facilitatingdialogues and cooperation among ASEAN member states and external partners.
Inpolitical area, Linh said both countries are committed to the effectiveimplementation of the Plan of Action (POA) designed to execute the StrategicPartnership for the 2021-2025 period.
Inthe first half of 2024, one of the embassy’s priorities is to promote and organisehigh-level visits of Party and State leaders to Malaysia, he said, adding thatthe exchange of high-level delegations will be a driving force forstrengthening strategic trust and deepening comprehensive cooperation betweenthe two countries, toward the 10th anniversary of the StrategicPartnership in 2025.
In economic sphere, he said both nations areeyeing the halal industry as a promising avenue for cooperation. Vietnam isMalaysia’s 12th largest trade partner globally and the fourthbiggest in ASEAN, after Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. In 2022, total bilateraltrade increased by 16.4% to 19.44 billion USD from 16.7 billion USD in 2021.
In terms of investment, Malaysia is Vietnam’s10th largest investor after Singapore and Thailand.
Regarding maritime security, he said both nations must enhancecollaboration to uphold peace, security, safety and navigation freedom in theEast Sea.
“It is crucial to fullycomply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties and promptly finalisenegotiations for the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), aligning withinternational law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS)”, he said.
About people-to-peopleexchange, the ambassador said their ties are poised to flourish further throughcontinued cooperation in news exchange.
He hoped thatestablished connections between the news agencies - Bernama and Vietnam NewsAgency – could be enhanced correlatively./.
