Vietnam and Malaysia have agreed to boost the cooperation in defense, security, energy, sea, and fishing as Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad is on a three-day visit to Hanoi. 
Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad visits Vietnam on August 26-28. Photo: VGP
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Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Malaysian counterpart highly appreciated the cooperation between Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and encouraged them to expand oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea.
PETRONAS and PetroVietnam have partnered since 1991 in oil exploration and exploitation, and petroleum services. The two sides are operating 10 projects with daily volume of 72,000 barrels of oil.
Vietnam and Malaysia are among claimants of sovereignty and sovereignty right in the South China Sea.
The cooperation between the two companies has greatly contributed to the Vietnam-Malaysia ties, the Malaysian PM said at the press conference on Tuesday morning [August 27], local media reported.
For further cooperation amid the globalization, the two sides agreed to promote cooperation with other ASEAN members for peace and freedom of maritime navigation in the South China Sea.
The two PMs walk at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on August 27. Photo: VGP
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The cooperation is in line with ASEAN’s mechanism which vows that all disputes would be settled in a peaceful manner in accordance with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, PM Phuc said.
The two countries respect all legal and diplomatic process which excludes force or threats to use force or militarization in the sea, fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and soon reach consensus on a substantive ASEAN-China Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, the Vietnamese PM said.
The two PMs at a press conference on August 27. Photo: VGP
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Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said the world is changing so quickly and violating of international law among major countries has become serious, going against global codes of conduct and affecting many other countries.
He said the countries should realize that many nations are enduring impacts caused by major powers which are imposing their own law that goes against international rules.
In terms of naval cooperation, since 2009 the two countries’ navies have been discussing a draft memorandum of understanding on joint patrol and the operation of hotlines and exchange ports of call.
Cooperation in air force has been enhanced with the maintenance of Su-30 aircraft, missiles, and radar.
Security is also added in the multifaceted ties with information exchange related to anti-terrorism, cybercrime, and transnational crime.
