Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysia Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Utama HajiMohamad Bin Haji Hasan is paying an official visit to Vietnam from December 3to 5 at the invitation of Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang.

The visit, part of the activities to mark the 50th anniversary ofthe Vietnam – Malaysia diplomatic relations, aims at evaluating the bilateral defencecooperation in the past time and outlining collaboration orientation in thecoming time, making contributions to deepening the friendship between the twocountries.

Both defence ministers held talks right after the official welcome ceremonychaired by Giang on December 4 morning.

Giang stressed that his Malaysian counterpart’s visit will provide a new impetus that helps the bilateral defence ties to thrive in the future.

As close neighbours in Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Malaysia share alot of similarities in culture and history, and have been proactive andresponsible members of ASEAN, and supported each other in many importantinternational issues, he said, adding both nations are carrying out an action planfor the implementation of the Strategic Partnership during the 2021-2025 periodin all fields, including defence cooperation.

The Malaysian Defence Minister, for his part, highlighted the Vietnam – Malaysiadefence ties have developed over the past time on the basis of the Memorandumof Understanding on defence cooperation signed in 2008 and the StrategicPartnership established in 2015.

He expressed his hope that the defencerelations will be elevated to a new high in the time ahead.

Both ministers said that defence cooperation between the two countrieshave played an increasingly important role in their strategic partnership, andhave attained standout achievements in delegation exchanges, training,consultation and support each other at regional and international securityforums, among others.

They agreed that there is ample room for Vietnam and Malaysia to bolster cooperation,and recommended both sides continue effectively implementing the signeddocuments and agreements, and penning orientations for future cooperation, especiallyin the fields of delegation exchange, establishment of the consultation – dialoguemechanisms, training, defence industry, logistics, military medicine, and rescue.

Sharing regional and international issues and those of mutual concerns, they saidamidst complicated developments in the region and the world, the ASEAN-ledmechanisms continue to demonstrate its central role in promoting dialogues andcooperation between ASEAN member states as well as external partners for peace,stability and development in the region.

Besides, they laid a stress on the significance of maintaining peace, security,safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, as well as thenecessity to strictly and fully carry out the Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the waters, and soon conclude the negotiations of and sign thesubstantive and effective Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) inline with the international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS).

Giang took the occasion to invite his counterpart and other leaders of the Malaysian Ministry of Defence and defence enterprises toattend the second Vietnam International Defence Expo in 2024.

The two ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperationfollowing their talks./.