First Vietnam-Malaysia defence dialogue opens up avenues for closer ties
VOV.VN - Vietnam and Malaysia will deepen defence cooperation, with a particularly focus on defence industry, personnel training, military exchanges and maritime security, following their first defence policy dialogue in Hanoi on October 20.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, Deputy Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, and Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, Secretary-General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence, at the Vietnamese ministry’s headquarters.
Thang congratulated Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence on successfully hosting ASEAN military and defence meetings during Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, helping uphold ASEAN centrality and promote regional peace, cooperation and sustainable development.
He noted that Vietnam-Malaysia relations had advanced significantly, particularly following the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November 2024. Building on the bilateral defence cooperation memorandum of understanding signed in Hanoi in December 2023, the two countries have achieved positive results through high-level exchanges, dialogue and consultation mechanisms, defence industry cooperation and collaboration between their respective armed services.
Broadening defence cooperation
Looking ahead, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang called on both defence ministries to implement agreements reached by the two countries’ senior leaders and follow the key directions agreed by their defence ministers during the Malaysian Defence Minister’s official visit to Vietnam in August 2026.
He proposed making defence cooperation a key pillar of bilateral ties, with continued emphasis on high-level exchanges, policy dialogue, cooperation between military services, defence industry development, training and human resource development.
The two sides were also encouraged to consult and support each other in maintaining ASEAN’s common positions on regional and international security issues, while exploring further cooperation in military medicine, cybersecurity and United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Thang proposed that Malaysia support English-language training for officers of the Vietnam People’s Army, including by sending Malaysian defence instructors to Vietnamese military training institutions and accepting Vietnamese officers for language courses in Malaysia.
Vietnam is ready to receive Malaysian defence officers for Vietnamese-language courses and international defence officials’ programmes at its military academies and training institutions, he told his guest.
Both sides were also encouraged to organise visits by military academies and schools to exchange professional experience and strengthen ties between the two armed forces.
Thang welcomed the participation of Malaysian defence officials, armed forces representatives and defence businesses in the third Vietnam International Defence Expo, scheduled to take place in Hanoi in December 2026.
For his part, Lokman Hakim Ali described the inaugural dialogue as a new milestone in bilateral defence relations, creating opportunities to deepen cooperation between the two ministries.
He praised the positive results achieved in bilateral relations and defence cooperation, expressing Malaysia's desire to expand collaboration in personnel exchanges, training, defence industry and science and technology. Such efforts, he said, would contribute to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and promote ASEAN centrality, peace and stability.
Upholding regional maritime security
The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional developments and issues of mutual concern.
Thang reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to resolving maritime disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law, while making sustained efforts to prevent incidents at sea.
Malaysia’s 69th National Day marked in Ho Chi Minh City
VOV.VN - A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 22 to mark Malaysia’s 69th National Day and Malaysia Day, observed on August 31 and September 16, respectively.
He called on Malaysia to work with Vietnam to uphold ASEAN’s common position on peacefully settling maritime disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Both sides also emphasised the need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, known internationally as South China Sea, (DOC), and work towards a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the regional waters (COC).
