The fifth meeting of the Vietnam-Malaysia joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation in Hanoi on July 27 has decided on a range of measures to increase bilateral and multilateral collaboration.


Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Anifah Aman co-chair the fifth meeting of the Vietnam-Malaysia joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation (Photo: VNA)

Under the co-chair of Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Anifah Aman, the two sides stressed they attach great importance to each other’s role and position in the region and share the common vision on intra-bloc and inter-regional cooperation.

The two sides affirmed they will work together to build a strong ASEAN Community with solidarity and to maintain peace, stability, security and development in the region.

Regarding political cooperation, Vietnamand Malaysiaagreed to increase mutual visits at all levels between their Parties, Governments, States and parliaments, as well as promote people-to-people exchanges.  

The two sides will research how to expand cooperation between the two ruling parties and coordinate to make good preparations for the State visit to Malaysia by Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2018 and organise activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year.

The two sides particularly highlighted economic cooperation as a bright point in the bilateral relationship.

  Malaysia is currently the seventh biggest trade partner and investor of Vietnamwith two-way rade reaching 8.4 billion USD in 2016. Malaysian investment in Vietnamamounted to 12 billion USD as of the end of May this year. 

They concurred to boost trade and investment promotion activities to facilitate goods exchange and investment flow.

Malaysia pledged to assist Vietnamese producers of agro-fisheries products in meeting quality and hygiene standards to export to the Malaysian market.

The two countries will encourage the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and Malaysia’s National Oil Company Inc. (Petronas) to explore opportunities for bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Given the rising traditional and non-traditional security challenges, the two countries agreed to push cooperation in security and defense, and share information and policies in the field.

They consented to forge ahead with negotiations for the signing of cooperation agreements on fighting human trafficking, extradition and the transfer of convicted persons to improve the legal framework in crime prevention and combat.

Sea and ocean cooperation was also high on the meeting’s agenda, with Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh hailing Malaysiafor handling issues relating to Vietnamese fishermen and vessels based on the friendship between the two countries and supporting Vietnamese ships in distress.

Minister Anifah Aman said Malaysian competent agencies will continue sharing information with Vietnamto fight pirate, provide search and rescue, and consider the establishment of a hot line and joint patrols between the two countries’ naval forces. Malaysian will also consider negotiating with Vietnam’s marine police on a cooperation agreement.

The two sides were committed to actively implementing the labour cooperation agreement signed in 2015. The Malaysian minister promised to consider Vietnam’s proposal of receiving more Vietnamese workers in some new professions such as fisheries and entertainment services. The minister also affirmed Malaysia will pay due attention to ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Vietnamese in Malaysia, including the fair trial of Vietnamese citizen Tran Thi Huong, who is a suspect in the death of a citizen of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Malaysia. 

Both nations agreed to enhance cooperation and mutual support at regional and international forums, especially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN).

They emphasised the need to strengthen solidarity and maintain the central role of ASEAN in the regional security architecture and pledged to increase consultations for peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

The two sides called on the involved parties to restrain themselves, not to use or threat to use force, while fully respecting diplomatic and legal procedures to address any disputes via peaceful means and in line with fundamental principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They reiterated their support for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early formation of a practical and legally-binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Minister Anifah Aman said Malaysiasupports Vietnam’s hosting of the Economic Leaders’ Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2017, adding that Prime Minister Najib Razak will attend the event in the central coastal province of Da Nang in November.

The sixth Vietnam-Malaysia joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation will be held in Malaysia in 2019.

 

 

                             Source: VNA

Related Topics


Party members take lead in road expansion in Da Bac’s Doan Ket sub-region

In the spirit of "Party members go first, the people follow”, all households of Party members in the Doan Ket sub-region in Da Bac town, Da Bac district, voluntarily removed gates and fences, and donated land when the road expansion project passed through their properties. Inspired by their example, 68 households in the sub-region quickly followed suit, contributing over 1,400 sq.m of residential and perennial cropland to widen the main road through the residential area. The exemplary role of Party members in Doan Ket stands as a shining example of studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and lifestyle.

Socio-economic development performance in first half of 2025 reviewed

The Hoa Binh provincial People's Committee held a monthly meeting on May 29 to assess the implementation of socio-economic development tasks in the first six months of 2025, the progress of key projects, and some other important issues.

Prioritizing the resources to achieve the goals for children

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always expressed his deep affection and special concern for children and youth. He once emphasized: "Caring for and educating children well is the responsibility of the entire Party and the entire people”; "First of all, the family (i.e. grandparents, parents, siblings) must do this job well”. "the Party Committees…, the Children’s Committee, the Youth Union, the education sector, and all related organizations must have specific plans to ensure children grow healthier and more progressive”. His teachings has been remaining valuable and serving as the guiding principles in the work of protecting, caring for, and educating children. In line with this ideology, Hoa Binh Province has continuously been prioritizing and investing resources in the well-being of children in recent years.

The Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee provides opinions on several Investment projects

Mr. Nguyen Phi Long, the alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee chaired the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee to provide opinions on several investment projects within the province. There was the attendance of Ms. Bui Thi Minh, the Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Council; Mr. Bui Đuc Hinh, the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee and other members of the Standing Committee; the leaders from other departments, agencies, and some localities.

Hoa Binh province honours reputable persons, village elders

The Standing Board of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of Hoa Binh province held a meeting on May 28 to honour outstanding village elders, village heads, and reputable individuals from local ethnic minority and religious communities.

Hoa Binh exhibition features Party formation, development

In mid-May, the provincial Museum organised an exhibition named "Duoi la co Dang Cong san Viet Nam quang vinh” (Under the flag of the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam). This meaningful activity took place in the joyful atmosphere to celebrate the country's major holidays and the Party congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term, towards the 14th National Party Congress.