Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Malaysian counterpart Muhyiddin Yassin discussed on Viet Nam-Malaysia cooperation as well as regional and international issues of common concerns over the phone Tuesday. 

The two PMs underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, freedom
and security of navigation and aviation in the East Sea and committed to joining
hands to sustain solidarity and common positions of ASEAN. Photo: VGP

Phuc extended congratulations on Muhyiddin Yassin upon his appointment as Malaysia's 8th Prime Minister and spoke highly of Malaysian Government's measures to contain COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vietnamese Government chief welcomed the two sides' coordination efforts in repatriating their citizens and thanked for Malaysia's support for Viet Nam's initiatives and the ASEAN's collective responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

PM Muhyiddin congratulated Viet Nam on its success in fighting the COVID-19 while highly valuing Viet Nam's initiatives and role in rallying the bloc's efforts in mitigating impacts of the pandemic, as evidenced by the issuance of the ASEAN Chair's Statement on ASEAN Collective Response to COVID-19 Outbreak on February 14 and Special ASEAN and ASEAN+3 Summits on April 14 on COVID-19.

The two leaders agreed to further bolster bilateral cooperation through contacts and exchanges at all levels, soon convene meetings of the existing cooperation mechanisms and approve an action plan to implement the Viet Nam-Malaysia strategic partnership in the 2020-2025 period.

Despite the current context, they agreed to double efforts to soon realize the trade goal of US$15 billion and strengthen investment ties.

The pair agreed to beef up coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums. PM Muhyiddin pledged to work closely with and back Viet Nam to successfully undertake the dual role of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 and the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the tenure 2020-2021.

The two PMs underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, freedom and security of navigation and aviation in the East Sea and committed to joining hands to sustain solidarity and common positions of ASEAN and to accelerate the talks on a practical Code of Conduct on the East Sea in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea./.