Vietnam, Malaysia play indispensable role in ASEAN: Malaysian expert
Both Vietnam and Malaysia play an important and indispensable role in ASEAN, including in the fields of economy, diplomacy and security, said Collins Chong Yew Keat, an expert on policy and foreign affairs at the University of Malaya, Malaysia.
At the welcome ceremony for Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim (Photo: VNA)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Both Vietnam and Malaysia play an importantand indispensable role in ASEAN, including in the fields of economy,diplomacy and security, said Collins Chong Yew Keat, an expert on policy andforeign affairs at the University of Malaya, Malaysia.
Talking with Vietnam News Agency in Kuala Lumpur,Collins said the Vietnam-Malaysia relationship has been increasingly stepped upin all fields, including diplomacy, economy and national defence-security,especially since the establishment of bilateral strategic partnership in 2015.
Amid the current developments in the regionand the world, he said the Vietnam visit by Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim fromJuly 20-21 held significance, aiming to continue strengthening long-standingfriendship and partnership with Vietnam. He suggested that in the near future,both countries should reinforce collaboration to ensure stablesupply chains, food security, the development of green economy, digitaleconomy, and other industries.
He stressed that economic cooperation is one of the importantareas for both countries, particularly amid complicated developments in theregion and the world, especially during the post-COVID-19 period.
According to him, Vietnam was Malaysia'ssecond largest trade partner in ASEAN last year. Therefore, both countries arewell-positioned to further bolster their coordination, especially in the fieldsof technology, semiconductors, digital economy, green economy, and other areasrelated to national defence-security. He mentioned Malaysia's current strengthsin several areas such as electronics, Halal products, palm oil, andparticularly energy - all of which are essential for Vietnam's economicdevelopment.
Regarding national defence-security, he heldthat that both countries need to enhance cooperation to address commonchallenges in maritime affairs, especially by jointly promoting and concluding aCode of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), which will be one of the priorities inbilateral cooperation in the future./.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said he believes that ample room remains for Vietnam and Malaysia to expand their cooperation while receiving Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Hanoi on July 20.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his visiting Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim held talks in Hanoi on July 20, noting with satisfaction the development of the bilateral relations, especially since the establishment of the Strategic partnership in 2015.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his spouse left Hanoi on July 21, concluding the two-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
At the welcome ceremony for Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim (Photo: VNA) 
