KUALA LUMPUR: Bilateral ties between Malaysia and Vietnam have entered their most dynamic stage since the relationship was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024.
Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang said partnership between the two countries is now stronger, deeper and more results-oriented than ever.
"Political cooperation has become increasingly close across all channels. Both sides have maintained regular high-level and all-level exchanges, as well as bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
"Within less than a year of the upgrade, we have conducted four high-level visits, achieved substantial outcomes, and signed several important documents,” he told Bernama in a written interview in conjunction with the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits.
Vietnam and Malaysia formally established diplomatic relations on March 30, 1973, and have since developed a robust relationship built on mutual trust and cooperation, and their shared commitment to Asean.
The year 2025 also marked a significant year for both Malaysia and Vietnam, where Malaysia assumed Asean’s rotating chairmanship and Vietnam is commemorating its 30th anniversary as a member of the regional bloc.
Vietnam and Malaysia elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Nov 2024, during the official visit of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam to Malaysia.
The visit marked the first visit by a Vietnamese party General Secretary since March 1994, a year before Vietnam’s formal accession to Asean.
The ties were further deepened by the working visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in May this year, in conjunction with the 46th Asean Summit.
Giang said economic, trade, and investment cooperation remain a highlight of the multifaceted bilateral relations.
Malaysia continues to be Vietnam’s third-largest trading partner in Asean, ninth-largest globally, and among the top ten foreign investors in Vietnam.
Bilateral trade has steadily increased, reaching US$18 billion and aiming towards US$20 billion by 2030, in a more balanced manner.
Both sides are committed to expanding collaboration in the digital economy, green economy, just energy transition, the Halal industry and innovation.
"We have also made significant strides in defence and security cooperation - including training, research, defence technology transfer, sharing of experience in crime prevention and maritime law enforcement, and joint efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
"Cooperation has also expanded in energy, labour, culture, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges,” he said.
At the regional and international levels, the two countries have continued to coordinate closely at multilateral forums, including Asean, in pursuit of sustainable development, while promoting healthy relations based on multilateralism, international law, and shared norms.
"Looking ahead, I expect Vietnam and Malaysia to build upon these achievements, focusing on effectively implementing the Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030),” he added.
The plan focuses on four key pillars of cooperation, namely: strengthening political, defence and security cooperation; enhancing economic linkages towards sustainable growth; expanding collaboration in new areas such as the green economy, innovation, science and technology, education and people-to-people exchanges; and supporting each other and coordinating closely on regional and international issues.
"I firmly believe that the Vietnam-Malaysia relationship will continue to flourish, becoming a model partnership in international relations, serving the interests of both peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region,” said Giang. - Bernama
