KUALA LUMPUR: The diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Vietnam took on a new level following a three day visit by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman to Hanoi which ended today.
The two countries reaffirmed its commitment to the Malaysia-Vietnam Strategic Partnership announced Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the then Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Tan Dung in 2015 apart from renewing its bilateral ties.
Anifah and his counterpart, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh co-chaired the 5th Joint Commission Meeting on Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation (JCM) between Malaysia and Vietnam. Both the ministers signed the Agreed Minutes after the 5th JCM.
A statement from the Foreign Ministry said the visit from July 26 to 28 allowed both countries to take stock on the rapid progress of their bilateral relations and to further enhance mutual understanding towards a region of stability, peace and prosperity.
Various issues such as political relations, defence and security cooperation, economic cooperation, maritime cooperation, labour cooperation and consular cooperation were discussed during the meeting in Hanoi.
In regards to the Malaysia and Vietnam bilateral relations which will celebrate its 45th Anniversary next year, both countries agreed on working together to expand multiple areas for mutual benefits and exchange high-level of visits, the statement added.
On economic cooperation, both sides will create favourable conditions to promote import and export of goods including agricultural and fishery products and agreed to boost to facilitate goods exchange and investment flows, it said.
In the area of defence and security cooperation, the two sides stressed on the importance of cooperation between navies, including sharing information on strategic, military and security issues.
The two countries also expressed their views on regional and international issues including South China Sea according to the statement.
Apart from the recent meeting, Anifah also paid a courtesy call to the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc.