Vietnam and Malaysia Strengthen Defence Ties During High-Level Meeting in Hanoi
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: On Thursday, General Phan Văn Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, hosted a reception for General Tan Sri Datuk Seri Mohammad bin Ab Rahman, Chief of Defence Forces of Malaysia. The meeting, held in Hanoi, served to further consolidate the defence relations between the two Southeast Asian nations.
General Giang emphasized the strong ties between Vietnam and Malaysia, noting that the two countries, both active and responsible members of ASEAN, share a strategic partnership that Vietnam highly values. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to enhancing this partnership and expressed support for Malaysia as it prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.
Expressing his satisfaction with the growing relationship between Vietnam and Malaysia, General Giang highlighted the increasing political trust and expanded cooperation in various fields such as culture, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. He pointed out that the bilateral defence collaboration has significantly contributed to the overall achievements in the relations between the two countries.
General Tan Sri Datuk Seri Mohammad bin Ab Rahman, in his remarks, underscored the importance of collaboration among nations in the face of the current global challenges, which are both mixed and multi-dimensional. He noted that his delegation’s visit to Vietnam is a testament to the robust cooperation between the two countries and their militaries. The visit also aims to implement the memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation signed by the two Governments in December 2023.
During his meeting with General Giang, the Malaysian defence chief provided an overview of his earlier discussions with Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyễn Tân Cương, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army. The talks focused on evaluating past cooperation results and exploring measures to further deepen the bond between the two militaries.
General Giang praised the outcomes of the talks and acknowledged the longstanding cooperation between the two militaries, particularly in areas such as delegation exchanges, training, and mutual support at multilateral forums and mechanisms. He suggested that both sides continue to effectively implement the deputy ministerial defence policy dialogue mechanism. Additionally, he proposed establishing new mechanisms for air force consultations and exchanges for young officers, and further collaboration in promising areas such as the defence industry, military medicine, and United Nations peacekeeping. He also stressed the importance of continued consultation and mutual support at multilateral forums.
In closing, General Giang informed his Malaysian counterpart about Vietnam’s upcoming events, including the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the second Vietnam International Defence Exhibition, both scheduled for December. He extended an invitation to the Malaysian Defence Minister and expressed his hope that the Malaysian Armed Forces, along with Malaysian defence industry enterprises, would actively participate in these events.
The meeting marks another step forward in the enduring partnership between Vietnam and Malaysia, particularly in the field of defence, reflecting the shared commitment to regional peace and stability.
