Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime MinisterPham Binh Minh held talks with his Malaysian counterpart Wan Azizah Wan Ismail,who is on an official visit to Vietnam, in Hanoi on October 26.

The two sides said amid changes in theAsia-Pacific region, including ASEAN, that bring about both opportunities andchallenges, the two countries should enhance their strategic partnership in amore substantive manner for the sake of the two peoples and for peace,cooperation and prosperous development in the region and the world.

The Deputy PMs applauded the breakthroughs inthe strategic partnership over the last five years since its establishment,noting close-knit political ties, substantive economic cooperation, andexpanding relations in other fields like defence-security, education-training,labour, culture, and people-to-people exchange.

They agreed to increase mutual visits at alllevels between the countries’ Parties, Governments, States, Parliaments andpeople. Both sides also agreed to continue implementing bilateral cooperationmechanisms effectively and discuss to have a unanimous stance on regional andinternational issues of shared concern.

Vietnam and Malaysia will keep tighteningeconomic links and promoting bilateral trade to 15 billion USD or higher by 2020,the officials said, stressing the need to boost dialogue between theirGovernments and businesses.

They affirmed the determination to removeobstacles and create optimum conditions for Vietnamese and Malaysian firms toseek investment and business chances, especially in new sectors that applytechnology and have high added value like digital economy, clean energy,hi-tech agriculture, infrastructure development and logistics.

They also talks ways to step up cooperation inother fields such as culture, tourism and sea-related areas.

Deputy PM Ismail said the Malaysian Governmentwill further provide favourable conditions for Vietnamese who are living,studying and working in the country. She also agreed to strengthen bilateralties in labour and vocational training.

At the talks, the Deputy PMs exchanged views onregional and global matters of common concern. They said amid the currentregional situation, the two countries should maintain consultation on issuesrelevant to regional security and strategies and coordinate to help build aunited ASEAN, successfully realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, enhance thebloc’s centrality in the regional architecture, and bring into play its role inthe settlement of strategic issues in the region.

They affirmed the resolve to work closelytogether to reinforce regional economic connectivity, particularly within theframework of ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), theAsia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Malaysia pledged to support Vietnam’s holding ofthe ASEAN Chair in 2020. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese side also committed supportand close coordination when Malaysia hosts APEC events the same year.

In terms of the East Sea issue, the two sidesshared the consistent viewpoint that is committing to peacefully resolvingdisputes in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention onthe Law of the Sea, not using or threatening to use force, and fully respectingdiplomatic and legal processes.

They emphasised the importance of no militarisation,restraining from activities that could cause tensions or escalate tensions, andfurther complying with principles of international law and widely recognisedstandards.

The Deputy PMs also reiterated their support forthe full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the East Sea, and for negotiations on an effective and substantiveCode of Conduct in the waters.-VNA