On the afternoon of 20/10, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of National Defense, and Mr. Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, Secretary General of Malaysia's Ministry of Defense, co-chaired the first Vietnam-Malaysia Defense Policy Dialogue.
During the dialogue, Deputy Minister Nguyen Truong Thang proposed that Malaysia assist in improving the English proficiency of Vietnamese army officers. This support would involve sending lecturers to teach at military training institutions and accepting Vietnamese officers to participate in language courses in Malaysia.
Deputy Minister Thang assessed that defense cooperation between the two countries has achieved positive results recently, including delegation exchanges, high-level contacts, policy consultations, defense industry collaboration, and cooperation among military branches.
Vietnam also expressed its readiness to receive Malaysian officers to study Vietnamese and participate in courses for international defense officials at its military schools.
The Deputy Minister emphasized the desire for both nations to continue expanding cooperation in human resource training, military medicine, cybersecurity, and United Nations peacekeeping. The goal is to establish defense cooperation as one of the important pillars of bilateral relations.
He also welcomed leaders from Malaysia's Ministry of Defense and defense enterprises to attend and showcase products at the 3rd Vietnam International Defense Exhibition, scheduled to take place from 10-13/12 in Hanoi.
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The first Vietnam-Malaysia Defense Policy Dialogue took place on the afternoon of 20/10. *Photo: Hoang Phuong*
Regarding the regional situation, Vietnam reaffirmed its consistent approach to resolving maritime disputes through peaceful means, respecting international law, and striving to prevent clashes in all forms.
Vietnam expressed its desire for Malaysia to jointly maintain ASEAN's common stance on resolving maritime disputes peacefully, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Mr. Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali assessed that this first defense policy dialogue marked a new development in bilateral relations. He noted it opens opportunities for cooperation in training, defense industry, science and technology, and delegation exchanges. These activities, he stated, are crucial for deepening the Vietnam-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and fostering peace, stability, and development in the region.
Vietnam and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in 1973, upgrading them to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 11/2024.
Hoang Phuong
