Deputy PMs call for stronger Vietnam-Malaysia strategic partnership

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with his Malaysian counterpart Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is on an official visit to Vietnam, in Hanoi on October 26.

The two sides said amid changes in the Asia-Pacific region, including ASEAN, that bring about both opportunities and challenges, the two countries should enhance their strategic partnership in a more substantive manner for the sake of the two peoples and for peace, cooperation and prosperous development in the region and the world.

The Deputy PMs applauded the breakthroughs in the strategic partnership over the last five years since its establishment, noting close-knit political ties, substantive economic cooperation, and expanding relations in other fields like defence-security, education-training, labour, culture, and people-to-people exchange.

They agreed to increase mutual visits at all levels between the countries’ Parties, Governments, States, Parliaments and people. Both sides also agreed to continue implementing bilateral cooperation mechanisms effectively and discuss to have a unanimous stance on regional and international issues of shared concern.

Vietnam and Malaysia will keep tightening economic links and promoting bilateral trade to 15 billion USD or higher by 2020, the officials said, stressing the need to boost dialogue between their Governments and businesses.

They affirmed the determination to remove obstacles and create optimum conditions for Vietnamese and Malaysian firms to seek investment and business chances, especially in new sectors that apply technology and have high added value like digital economy, clean energy, hi-tech agriculture, infrastructure development and logistics.

They also talks ways to step up cooperation in other fields such as culture, tourism and sea-related areas.

Deputy PM Ismail said the Malaysian Government will further provide favourable conditions for Vietnamese who are living, studying and working in the country. She also agreed to strengthen bilateral ties in labour and vocational training.

At the talks, the Deputy PMs exchanged views on regional and global matters of common concern. They said amid the current regional situation, the two countries should maintain consultation on issues relevant to regional security and strategies and coordinate to help build a united ASEAN, successfully realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, enhance the bloc’s centrality in the regional architecture, and bring into play its role in the settlement of strategic issues in the region.

They affirmed the resolve to work closely together to reinforce regional economic connectivity, particularly within the framework of ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Malaysia pledged to support Vietnam’s holding of the ASEAN Chair in 2020. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese side also committed support and close coordination when Malaysia hosts APEC events the same year.

In terms of the East Sea issue, the two sides shared the consistent viewpoint that is committing to peacefully resolving disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, not using or threatening to use force, and fully respecting diplomatic and legal processes.

They emphasised the importance of no militarisation, restraining from activities that could cause tensions or escalate tensions, and further complying with principles of international law and widely recognised standards.

The Deputy PMs also reiterated their support for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and for negotiations on an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the waters.-VNA