Vietnam-Malaysia hold first Defence Policy Dialogue in Hanoi
WVR - On October 20, at the Ministry of National Defence Headquarters, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, Deputy Minister of Defence, and Mr. Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia, co-chaired the first Vietnam-Malaysia Defence Policy Dialogue.
Latest
 |
| Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, Deputy Minister of National Defence, and Mr. Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia, co-chaired the first Vietnam-Malaysia Defence Policy Dialogue. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
At the Dialogue, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang congratulated the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia for successfully hosting ASEAN military and defence conferences during the ASEAN Chairmanship 2025. This has continued to maintain the central role and promote ASEAN's objectives for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the region and the world.
The Deputy Minister of Defence emphasised that the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Malaysia has developed strongly, marked by the historic upgrade to a comprehensive strategic partnership in November 2024.
Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang assessed that, based on the effective implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments on defence cooperation, signed in December 2023 in Hanoi, defence cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia has been effectively implemented by both parties, achieving many positive results. Notable achievements include delegation exchanges, high-level contacts, maintaining effective consultation mechanisms, Defence Policy Dialogue, defence industry cooperation, and collaboration among military branches.
Regarding future directions, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang expressed the desire to work with the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia to continue effectively implementing the shared understanding of the high-level leaders of both countries and the important orientations agreed upon by the Ministers of Defense during the official visit of the Malaysian Minister of Defence to Vietnam in August 2026. The aim is to make defense cooperation one of the important pillars, focusing on areas such as delegation exchanges, high-level meetings and contacts, maintaining effective Dialogue and Consultation mechanisms, cooperation and exchanges among military branches, defence industry cooperation, training, and human resource development. Both sides should actively consult and support each other to maintain ASEAN's common stance on regional and international security issues, while also exploring potential areas for expanded cooperation such as military medicine, cybersecurity, and United Nations peacekeeping.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Truong Thang expressed the desire for the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia to support English language training for officers of the Vietnam People's Army through various means, such as sending instructors from the Ministry of Defense of Malaysia to teach at training facilities within the Vietnam People's Army, and accepting officers from the Vietnam People's Army to participate in English language training courses in Malaysia.
The Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam is ready to welcome officers from the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia to participate in Vietnamese language training courses and international defense official courses at academies and schools. They also welcome delegations from academies and schools to visit and conduct research in each country, thereby promoting understanding, sharing professional experiences, and serving as a bridge of friendship for the relationship between the two countries and their respective armies.
The Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam welcomes delegations from the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, and defense enterprises of Malaysia to attend and exhibit products at the 3rd Vietnam International Defence Exhibition to be held in Hanoi in December 2026.
 |
| Deputy Minister Nguyen Truong Thang expressed the desire for the Ministry of Defense of Malaysia to support English language training for officers of the Vietnam People's Army. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia, Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali, affirmed that the first Vietnam-Malaysia Defence Policy Dialogue marks a development step in bilateral defence cooperation, opening up many opportunities to further deepen cooperation between the two Ministries of Defence in the future.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence of Malaysia highly appreciated the positive and effective cooperation results between Vietnam and Malaysia in general, and between the two Ministries of Defence in particular, in recent times. Mr. Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali hopes that in the future, both sides will strive to coordinate and implement bilateral defense cooperation, focusing on areas such as delegation exchanges, training, defence industry, and science and technology. This will contribute to further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Malaysia, enhancing ASEAN's central role for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
During the Dialogue, both sides exchanged views on global and regional situations and issues of mutual concern. It was emphasized that in addressing maritime issues, Vietnam is always steadfast and desires to resolve them through peaceful means, respecting international law, and making continuous efforts to prevent any form of maritime collision.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Truong Thang expressed the hope for Malaysia, along with Vietnam, to maintain ASEAN's common stance of resolving maritime disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS). Both sides should effectively and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and build a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
