VN, Malaysia agree to work towards strategic partnership

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak, Ha Noi, April 4, 2014 - Photo: VGP

The agreement was reached during their talks in Ha Noi on the occasion of PM Najib Razak’s official visit to Viet Nam from April 3-5.

At the talks, PM Dung once again extended his condolences to PM Najib Razak, the Malaysian Government, people and families of the victims on the flight MH370.

For his part, PM Najib expressed his sincere thanks to Viet Nam for assisting his country in the search and rescue efforts for the lost flight.

Regarding the bilateral ties, the two PMs noted with pleasure that the friendship and cooperation between the two countries have been flourishing during the past four decades.

PM Dung said that Malaysia is one of Viet Nam’s top trade and investment partners. The two-way trade value stood at US$9 billion in 2013, an increase of 67% compared to 2010 while Malaysia ranks 8^th among the biggest investors in Viet Nam with 451 projects worth over US$10 billion.

The two leaders agreed to lift up the two-way trade value to US$11 billion by 2015 and facilitate business communities’ investment in their respective countries.

They also agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on rice trade soon and accelerate cooperation in labor, agriculture, petroleum, education, and justice.

Both sides welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on agriculture cooperation and tasked inferior levels to quickly implement the document.

PM Dung spoke highly of Malaysia as one of Viet Nam’s top labor export markets. More than 80,000 Vietnamese guest workers are working in the neighboring country.

The two PMs also highly valued the bilateral defense and security ties and agreed to boost the conclusion of documents on joint patrol, establishment of a hotline between the two navy forces, and trans-national crime prevention and fight.

They agreed to organize the 5^th meeting of the Joint Viet Nam-Malaysia Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation in Malaysia.

The two PMs discussed on regional and international issues of common concern, affirmed that the will continue close coordination at regional and international forums, vowed to work closely with other ASEAN member countries to successfully build a strong and united ASEAN Community by 2015 and develop post-2015 ASEAN vision.

PM Dung affirmed that Viet Nam supports ASEAN to assume ASEAN Chairmanship in 2015.

For the East Sea issue, the two PMs emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, freedom of navigation, maritime and aviation security and safety in the East Sea.

They voiced support for ASEAN’s common stance provided in the ASEAN six-point principles on the East Sea, settlement of disputes through peaceful means with respect to international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, full and serious realization of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and working towards the conclusion of the Code of Conduct.

The two leaders committed to promoting the central role of ASEAN in addressing issues related to peace and security in the region, including the East Sea issue.

Regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the two PMs agreed to coordinate closely and support each other for early conclusion of the negotiation process.

After the talks, both sides issued a Joint Statement./.

By Ngoc Van