Vietnam, Malaysia deepen defence ties under strategic partnership

Gen. Phan Van Giang hailed the strong progress in bilateral ties, with the upgrade of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November 2024.

He congratulated Malaysia on successfully hosting ASEAN military and defence meetings during its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, which sustained the bloc's central role and advanced regional peace, stability, and development.

Both ministers evaluated recent defense cooperation as practical and increasingly broad. Key achievements include high-level delegation exchanges, effective consultation mechanisms, defense industry cooperation, service branch exchanges, human resource training, UN peacekeeping efforts, and mutual support at ASEAN-led multilateral forums.

Looking ahead, Gen. Phan Van Giang proposed both defence ministries effectively implement high-level agreements outlined in the Action Program for the Vietnam-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Priorities include maintaining contacts at all levels, intensifying delegation exchanges, strengthening service-to-service ties, expanding defense industry cooperation, military medicine, and UN peacekeeping coordination.

On personnel training, Giang called for Malaysia’s support in English language training for Vietnam People's Army officers. He affirmed Vietnam's readiness to welcome Malaysian defence instructors to teach at Vietnamese military institutions and to send military personnel to Malaysia for English courses.

He also invited Malaysian defence personnel to join Vietnamese language and international defence official courses in Vietnam, encouraging academic exchanges between military academies to enhance mutual understanding.

Additionally, Gen. Phan Van Giang invited Malaysian defence leaders, military officials, and defence enterprises to attend and display products at the 3rd Vietnam International Defence Expo, slated for December 2026 in Hanoi.

For his part, Minister Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin affirmed that his visit underscores the friendship and trust between the two nations and their defense ministries. He expressed a desire to advance agreed defense cooperation areas based on mutual needs and interests, helping bring the bilateral strategic partnership into deeper, more practical effect.

Discussing regional and international issues of shared concern, including the East Sea, Gen. Phan Van Giang emphasized Vietnam's desire to maintain regular consultation with Malaysia and step up practical cooperation between maritime law enforcement agencies.

Both sides reaffirmed support for ASEAN’s unified stance on resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also called for full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early conclusion of an effective, substantive Code of Conduct (COC).

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