Malaysia, Japan sign agreement on defence equipment transfer

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (L) and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe shake hands after their meeting in Japan in 2016 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Malaysia and Japan signed an agreement on April 18, paving the way for the transfer of Japanese defence equipment and technology to the Southeast Asian country.

Speaking with reporters after a signing ceremony on the sidelines of a regional security forum and exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Makio Miyagawa said the new agreement establishes security cooperation between the two countries and stipulates procedures for each specific transfer and rules on the use of defence equipment and technology.

Malaysia is interested in acquiring from Japan surveillance aircraft, vessels, radar, satellites, communications equipment, and other hardware, Miyagawa said.

In May 2015, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe agreed to start negotiating an agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology in the fields of maritime security and disaster relief.

Malaysia is the second country in ASEAN, after the Philippines, which has forged such a deal with Japan.

The Philippines and Japan signed a similar agreement in February 2016. Under the deal, Japan has given the Philippine Navy five trainer aircraft that had been used by its Maritime Self-Defence Force.-VNA