Vietnam, Malaysia reaffirm ASEAN unity, call for restraint amid regional tensions
Both prime ministers also align bilateral cooperation with regional priorities, particularly strengthening ASEAN unity and centrality as constructive and responsible partners.
THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam and Malaysia agreed to work closely with other ASEAN members to strengthen unity, uphold ASEAN centrality and promote dialogue to maintain peace, stability and cooperation in the region.
Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the phone talk with Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim on December 12. Photo: Nhat Bac/VGP
The consensus was reached during a phone call between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on December 12 amid growing regional concerns.
The two leaders expressed deep concerns over recent tensions between Cambodia and Thailand and called on relevant parties to exercise restraint, avoid the use of force and resolve differences through peaceful dialogue.
They stressed the importance of ASEAN mechanisms in addressing regional challenges and reaffirmed their shared commitment to a cohesive and resilient bloc.
Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the phone exchange, following their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in South Africa in November 2025.
He praised the regular communication and timely coordination between the two prime ministers, which he said reflects growing political trust between the two countries and their senior leaders.
This trust continues to underpin the Vietnam-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Reviewing bilateral ties, the two prime ministers expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in cooperation across sectors.
They agreed to officially adopt the 2026–2030 Action Program to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with clear directions for each pillar.
Both sides also set the goal of raising two-way trade to US$20 billion in a more balanced and sustainable manner.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for stronger cooperation in areas of shared potential, such as rice trade and maritime and ocean affairs.
He highlighted priority oil and gas cooperation between PetroVietnam and Malaysia's Petronas, alongside expanded fisheries cooperation and closer coordination to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).
ASEAN is a regional bloc of 11 Southeast Asian countries founded in 1967 to promote peace, stability and economic growth through cooperation under three pillars: political-security, economic and socio-cultural. Photo: Malaymail.com
Regarding bilateral relations, Vietnam and Malaysia enjoy increasingly close and pragmatic relations anchored by strong political trust and regular high-level engagement.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have played a central role in nurturing this momentum through frequent meetings and phone calls that allow the two sides to exchange views, coordinate policies and respond promptly to regional and global developments.
Their active and direct communication has reinforced confidence between the two governments and helped elevate bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November 2024, grounded in shared interests and long-term vision.
The two countries have advanced cooperation across key pillars, including trade, investment, energy, maritime affairs and food security.
Both prime ministers also work closely to align bilateral cooperation with wider regional priorities, especially the strengthening of ASEAN unity and centrality, where Vietnam and Malaysia are seen as constructive and responsible partners.
Through their steady diplomatic engagement, PM Chinh and PM Anwar Ibrahim continue to shape a relationship that is both close and forward-looking, contributing to stability and cooperation in Southeast Asia.
Speaking at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025, Chinh called on ASEAN to strengthen unity and resilience to weather global challenges, saying each member’s progress will reinforce the bloc’s collective growth, laying out his vision for a stronger, more connected ASEAN community where independence, self-reliance and cooperation go hand in hand.
"ASEAN is a united family where the progress of one nation reinforces the collective strength of the bloc. When ASEAN as a whole grows stronger, every member benefits from shared resilience and prosperity,” he stated.
He said Vietnam, after nearly four decades of reform, has become one of the region’s bright spots, maintaining stable growth, a modernized economic structure and deep integration into global value chains.
"Independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization remain key pillars of Vietnam’s development policy," said Chinh.
