Strengthening multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia, maintaining Malaysia's central role in ASEAN.

On the afternoon of December 12, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a telephone conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss the state of bilateral relations between the two countries and a number of recent emerging regional and international issues.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his pleasure at having a discussion with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim immediately after their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit (November 2025); he highly appreciated the frequent telephone conversations between the two Prime Ministers to promptly coordinate and share information on issues of mutual interest, demonstrating the increasingly high level of political trust between the two countries in general and between the high-level leaders of the two sides in particular, in line with the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Discussing future cooperation directions, the two Prime Ministers expressed pleasure at the positive progress in the Vietnam-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in recent years, and agreed to officially adopt the Action Program for implementing the Vietnam-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the period 2026-2030, aiming to set specific directions for each pillar sector; striving to bring bilateral trade turnover to US$20 billion soon in a more balanced manner.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks during the phone call. (Photo: TRAN HAI)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the two sides continue to strengthen cooperation in the fields of rice trade, sea and ocean affairs, prioritizing cooperation in oil and gas between PetroVietnam and Petronas of Malaysia, joint fishing cooperation, and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Discussing regional and international issues of common concern, the two Prime Ministers expressed deep concern about the recent tensions between Cambodia and Thailand; they hoped that both sides would exercise restraint, refrain from the use of force, and engage in dialogue for peaceful resolution; and agreed to closely coordinate with other ASEAN countries to strengthen solidarity, maintain ASEAN's central role, and promote ASEAN mechanisms to foster dialogue, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.

Ha Thanh Giang

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tang-cuong-hop-tac-nhieu-mat-viet-nam-malaysia-giu-vung-vai-tro-trung-tam-cua-asean-post929781.html