Vietnam-Malaysia strategic partnership achieves significant progress

Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh and Malaysian Deputy PM Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (L).

At the talks, Vietnamese Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh said he believes that the visit of Malaysian Deputy PM Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will help further strengthen the two countries' relations and flourishing strategic partnership.

The Malaysian diplomat praised the socio-economic development achievements Vietnam has recorded in its construction and development process over the past years.

Regarding the relationship between the two countries, the duo said that in the fast-changing context of the Asia-Pacific region in general and ASEAN in particular with both opportunities and challenges, the two nations need to deepen more substantial and effective strategic partnership for the benefits of their people and for the sake of peace, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the wider world.

Vietnam and Malaysia have maintained close and trusted political ties and substantial and effective cooperation across defence- security, education- training, labor, culture and people-to-people exchange, which bring practical benefits to the two peoples, they said.

On this basis, the two sides consented to intensify the exchange of high-level delegations via Party, Government, State, National Assembly channels and people-to-people exchange, continue to effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms and be consistent with their stance on regional and international issues of common concern.

They pledged to continue stepping up economic cooperation to bring two-way trade to US$15 billion or beyond by 2020, while underlining the need to promote dialogues between their Governments and businesses.

The two diplomats assured their determination to remove obstacles and barriers and create favorable conditions for businesses to seek investment and business opportunities, especially in new areas that apply technology and have high added value such as digital economy, clean energy, hi-tech agriculture, infrastructure construction, and logistics.

They also discussed measures to advance cooperation in other areas such as energy, agriculture, culture, tourism and sea-related issues, including marine economic cooperation, marine science and the marine environment, and build a consultation mechanism on maritime affairs.

Wan Ismail said that the Malaysian government will continue to offer the best possible conditions for Vietnamese nationals in Malaysia, and agreed to beef up cooperation on labor and vocational training.

Both sides concurred to maintain consultation on issues pertaining to regional security and strategy, jointly build an ASEAN of unity, achieve the ASEAN Vision 2025, promote ASEAN’s central role in the regional structure, and promote the regional bloc’s role in addressing strategic issues in the region.

They were of full determination to boost closer coordination in enhancing the regional economic connectivity, especially 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 back Vietnam in taking on the ASEAN Chair in 2020 while Vietnam affirmed its support and close cooperation in the run-up to Malaysia's hosting of APEC events in the same year.

The two sides showed a shared consistent stance on the East Sea issue and vowed to support the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) without the use of, or threat to use force, and fully respect the diplomatic and legal processes.

They emphasized the importance of non-militarization, self-restraint of activities that may cause tensions or escalation of tensions, and adherence to the principles of international law and widely recognized standards.

Both Deputy PMs also voiced support for the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and accelerate negotiation on an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Malaysian Deputy PM Wan Azizah Wan Ismail paid an official visit to Vietnam over October 24-26 to attend the third ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women (AMMW).