Vietnam and Malaysia expect Cambodia and Thailand to exercise restraint

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a phone call on the afternoon of December 12 with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss the situation of bilateral relations and some recently emerging regional and international issues, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Malaysia is the chair of ASEAN 2025.

The two Prime Ministers expressed deep concern about the recent tense developments between Cambodia and Thailand, hoping that both sides would refrain from using force, conduct dialogue and peacefully resolve the matter. Vietnam and Malaysia agreed to coordinate closely with other ASEAN countries to strengthen solidarity, maintain ASEAN’s central role, and promote ASEAN mechanisms to promote dialogue, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.

Regarding bilateral relations, Vietnam – Malaysia agreed to soon approve the Action Program to implement the Vietnam – Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the period 2026 – 2030 to set out specific orientations for each pillar field, striving to bring bilateral trade turnover to soon reach 20 billion USD in a more balanced direction.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the two sides continue to strengthen cooperation in the fields of rice, sea and ocean trade, with priority given to oil and gas cooperation between PetroVietnam Oil and Gas Group and Malaysia’s Petronas Group, joint fishing cooperation and prevention of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.