HANOI: Malaysia and Vietnam have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defence cooperation and regional security.
This was achieved following a meeting between Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng on Wednesday (Aug 5).
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Mohamed Khaled said Malaysia regards Vietnam as a trusted and reliable defence partner, with both countries sharing common strategic perspectives and a commitment to upholding Asean principles of dialogue and diplomacy in maintaining regional peace and stability.
"The discussions also focused on the increasingly complex security environment, including major power rivalry, grey zone activities, cyber threats, artificial intelligence, cognitive warfare and disruptions to global supply chains.
"In an increasingly complex environment, Asean must continue to strengthen its collective regional resilience through closer cooperation," Khaled said in a statement on Wednesday.
He said both sides agreed that the Malaysia-Vietnam Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding, signed in 2023, would continue to serve as the roadmap for elevating bilateral defence relations to a more strategic level.
The meeting also explored opportunities to expand cooperation in maritime security, capability development, defence technology and the defence industry, in line with the shared commitment of both nations to enhance peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Mohamed Khaled is on a two-day official visit to Vietnam aimed at strengthening bilateral defence ties and enhancing cooperation between the two Asean member states.
