PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Vietnam have agreed to further cooperate across multiple sectors, including defence, marine, digital, and energy, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced. Anwar stated that the collaboration will leverage the ASEAN Energy Grid to foster regional growth.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, has been very forthcoming and supportive, along with other leaders in Vietnam. Anwar emphasized that efforts will be made to facilitate collaboration in various fields, specifically highlighting the use of the ASEAN Energy Grid in these initiatives. This announcement was made during a joint press conference following a bilateral meeting between the two leaders at the Perdana Putra Building.
Earlier, Anwar and Lam oversaw the exchange of a memorandum of understanding to enhance trade promotion between the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VI
ETRADE). They also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of collaboration between Petronas and PetroVietnam.
Anwar described Lam’s visit as meaningful, noting that it enables both countries to elevate their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. He announced that Kuala Lumpur is set to host the 8th Malaysia-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting early next year, co-chaired by both foreign ministers. Additionally, the two countries agreed to explore joint efforts in the fishing industry, building on the success of their existing joint development authority.
Lam, accompanied by his spouse, Ngo Phuong Ly, and his delegation, arrived at Kompleks Bunga Raya, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where he received an official welcome at Dataran Perdana. This visit marks Lam’s first to Malaysia since being elected head of the Communist Party of Vietnam in August.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry noted that this official visit will further strengthen the close relations between Malaysia and Vietnam, both
bilaterally under the Strategic Partnership framework and within ASEAN. In 2023, Vietnam ranked as Malaysia’s 11th largest trading partner globally and 4th largest within ASEAN. The bilateral trade value between the two countries stood at RM80 billion, with exports from Malaysia to Vietnam valued at RM52 billion. Malaysian companies have implemented over 700 projects in Vietnam, with investments totaling US$13.1 billion.