Malaysian PM wraps up official tour of VN

Myanmar PM Mahathir Mohamad successfully concluded the official visit to Viet Nam from August 27-28 at the invitation of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 

Within the official visit, PM Mahathir held talks with PM Phuc; and paid a courtesy visit to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Nguyen Phu Trong.

On this occasion, Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad also visited FPT Group and held a dialogue with students of FPT University at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Hanoi, and made a field trip to the Noi Bai Industrial Park.   

At these meetings, the two sides expressed their pleasure at the strong developments in the Viet Nam-Malaysia relationship over the past time. 

Both sides shared the views that the two countries should enhance and deepen the strategic partnership given profound changes in Asia-Pacific and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in particular with both opportunities and challenges, for the sake of the Vietnamese and Malaysian people, and for peace, cooperation and prosperous development in the region and the world. 

The two countries issued a joint statement, under which they agreed to maintain frequent high-level contacts and increase discussions on strategic issues through the exchange of high-level visits, as well as regular exchanges among political parties, governmental and parliamentary delegations.  

Regarding cooperation in national defense, security, and laws, the two countries agreed to strengthen bilateral exchanges in defense through the prompt establishment of the High Level Committee (HLC) on Defense Cooperation. Both sides agreed to hold the first meeting of the HLC on Defense Cooperation in Viet Nam in 2019. 

They pledged to boost cooperation in preventing and combating transnational and high-tech crimes, and other crimes related to drugs, piracy, terrorism and illegal immigration. 

In terms of economics, the two countries approved of promoting the mutual import and export of each country’s products, including electrical and electronics, petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products, manufactures of metal, machinery, equipment and parts, agricultural produce, palm oil, halal products, seafood, as well as garments and textiles, and raise the total two-way trade turnover to US$ 15 billion or higher by 2020. 

The two sides agreed to beef cooperation between investment agencies and businesses of the two countries, including coordination to hold investment promotion events so that enterprises can seek investment opportunities in each nation. 

In labor cooperation field, the two countries agreed to promote labor cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and welcomed the organization of the Joint Working Group Meeting to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on Labor Recruitment and Placement signed in 2015.

Both sides were unanimous in boosting comprehensive connectivity cultural and arts exchanges and tourism by increasing the frequency of Viet Nam-Malaysia direct flights and finalizing the Air Services Agreement (ASA) for signing at a suitable time. 

The two sides applauded the importance of maintaining ASEAN unity and centrality, and ensuring the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, reiterating their commitments to work with other ASEAN members in promoting a cohesive, coherent, resilient, responsive and innovative ASEAN Community that plays a central role in the evolving regional architecture. 

They affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and the rule of law in the region, which includes the safety, security and freedom of navigation and over-flight in the East Sea and expressed serious concerns over recent developments in the East Sea. The two sides agreed that disputes shall be resolved through peaceful means, including the full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.  

On the occasion, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad witnessed the signing of a letter of intent on an MoU on cooperation in legal enforcement and search and rescue at sea, and the exchange of letters on the establishment of the Malaysia – Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Group./.  

By Huong Giang