Vietnam, Malaysia work towards strategic partnership

The agreement was reached at their talks in Hanoi on April 4 as part of Malaysian President Najib Tun Razak’s ongoing trip to Vietnam from April 3-5.

The two PMs informed each other about the socio-economic development in their respective country and expressed their satisfaction with the two countries’ achievements recorded over the past years.

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.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung (L) welcomes his Malaysian counterpart Najib Tun Razak.

The Malaysian PM thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their great support in scouring for the missing plane MH370.

The two leaders said they are very happy to see the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two nations grow and flourish over the past four decades.

PM Dung said that Malaysia is one of Vietnam’s top trade and investment partners. Bilateral trade value reached over US$9 billion in 2013, up 67% from 2010 while Malaysia ranks 8^th among the biggest investors in Vietnam with 451 projects capitalized at more than US$10 billion.

The PMs agreed to elevate the two-way trade value to US$11 billion by 2015 and facilitate business communities’ investment in the two countries.

They also concurred to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on rice trade soon and boost cooperation in labour, agriculture, petroleum, education, and justice.

Both sides appreciated the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on agriculture cooperation and asked inferior levels to realize the document soon.

Dung praised Malaysia for serving as one of Vietnam’s top labour export markets. More than 80,000 Vietnamese guest workers are working in the neighboring country.

The two PMs also spoke highly of the bilateral defense and security ties and underlined the need to speed up the finalization of documents on joint patrol, establishment of a hotline between the two navy forces, and trans-national crime prevention and fight.

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

The two PMs compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern, noting that Vietnam and Malaysia will continue close coordination at regional and international forums, work closely with other ASEAN member countries to successfully build a strong and united ASEAN community by 2015 and outline a vision for the bloc beyond 2015.

Dung reiterated Vietnam’s willingness to support ASEAN in assuming ASEAN Chairmanship in 2015.

Regarding to the East Sea issue, the two government leaders stressed 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 mentioned 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 proper implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and working towards the conclusion of the Code of Conduct.

They pledged to promote the central role of the regional grouping in resolving issues related to peace and security in the region, including the East Sea.

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

PM Najib Tun Razak extended an invitation to visit Malaysia to PM Dung and his invitation was accepted with pleasure.

The two PMs also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation between the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-based Industry.

After the talks, both sides issued a joint statement on the visit.
The same day, PM Dung hosted a banquet in honour of the Malaysian PM and his delegation.