Viet Nam, Malaysia discuss ways to strengthen defense cooperation
VGP - General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense on Thursday held talks with Malaysian Defense Minister Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin who is on a two-day official visit to Viet Nam.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Gen. Phan Van Giang (L) and Malaysian Defense Minister Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin inspect the guards of honor, Ha Noi, August 6, 2026 - Photo: VNA
General Phan noted with pleasure at the robust advancement of the Viet Nam-Malaysia relations over the past time, marked by the upgrade of the bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November 2024.
Phan congratulated the Malaysian Ministry of National Defense on successfully hosting ASEAN defense meetings during Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, thereby contributing to the maintenance of ASEAN centrality and promotion of the bloc's goals for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the region and the world.
Phan took the occasion to invite leaders of the Malaysian Defense Ministry, military officers, and defense enterprises to attend and showcase products at the 3rd Viet Nam International Defense Expo, scheduled to take place in Ha Noi in December 2026.
For his part, Minister Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin said his visit stands as a clear testament to the friendship and mutual trust between the two countries in general and defense ministries in particular.
He expressed Malaysia's commitment to advancing agreed areas of defense cooperation based on shared interests to contribute to the effective and substantive development of the Viet Nam-Malaysia relations, for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
Comparing notes on regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea, General Phan expressed his wish that both countries would continue to maintain regular exchanges and consultations; enhance substantive cooperation between the two sides' maritime law enforcement forces.
The two countries should also work together to uphold ASEAN's consistent position that disputes must be settled through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), said Phan.
He also underscored the importance of full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and early formulation of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law./.