Malaysia, Vietnam Emphasises Importance Of Cooperation Between Navies

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), July 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Vietnam have emphasised the importance of cooperation between navies, including sharing information on strategic, military and security issues. The Foreign Ministry said it was discussed by Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh who is also Vietnam's Foreign Affairs Minister and Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, during the latter's visit to Hanoi from July 26 (Wednesday) until Friday. "Both ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues including South China Sea," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, here Friday. Apart from defence and security cooperation, Malaysia and Vietnam had also fruitful discussions on a wide range of issues of common interests including political relations as well as economic, maritime, labour and consular cooperation, it said. On political relations, it said both Malaysia and Vietnam expressed satisfaction at the excellent state of bilateral relations, which will celebrate its 45th Anniversary in 2018. The Foreign Ministry said Malaysia and Vietnam also committed to work together to expand and diversify further various areas of cooperation for mutual benefit. It said both ministers agreed on the importance of exchanging high-level visits and in this regard, Anifah Aman had extended the Malaysian Government’s invitation for Vietnam's Prime Minister and the General Secretary of the ruling party to visit Malaysia next year. In the area of trade and economic cooperation, it said both sides would endeavour to create favourable conditions to promote import and export of goods, including agricultural and fishery products. "The two sides would also facilitate exchange of information on policies in quality control and quarantine of agriculture and fisheries products. "Both sides also agreed to boost trade and investment to facilitate goods exchange and investment flows," the statement said. The Foreign Ministry said Anifah reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to the Malaysia-Vietnam Strategic Partnership which was announced by the Prime Minister Najib Razak and the Vietnam Prime Minister then Nguyen Tan Dung on Aug 7, 2015. During the visit, it said Anifah and his counterpart also co-chaired the 5th Joint Commission Meeting on Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation (JCM) between Malaysia and Vietnam. "At the end of the 5th JCM, the Foreign Ministers signed the Agreed Minutes," it said. Apart from the meeting, Anifah also paid a courtesy call on Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The visit had provided a platform for both Malaysia and Vietnam to take stock on the rapid progress of their bilateral relations and enabled both countries to further enhance mutual understanding towards a region of stability, peace and prosperity, the Foreign Ministry said. -- BERNAMA