CEBU, May 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today held meetings with his Thai and Vietnamese counterparts on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits here.
After his discussion with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Anwar expressed commitment to enhancing cooperation in areas including border development, energy security, rail connectivity, and logistics.
“In the spirit of close neighbourly ties, Malaysia and Thailand will continue to strengthen cooperation involving border development, rail and logistics connectivity, energy security, flood mitigation, as well as people-to-people relations,” he posted on Facebook today.
The close relationship not only continues the long-established legacy of friendship, but also serves as an important foundation for fostering a more peaceful, prosperous, and resilient future for the region, he added.
Anwar said they also expressed a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, including accelerating the target of achieving US$30 billion in trade by 2027 and expanding cross-border connectivity for the benefit of the people of both countries.
“We also reaffirmed that all disputes must be resolved peacefully based on international law, while upholding ASEAN unity as a vehicle for regional peace and stability.
“Malaysia remains committed to supporting diplomacy, dialogue, and principles rooted in mutual respect and shared interests,” he said.
During his discussion with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Huang, on the other hand, Anwar said Malaysia and Vietnam are committed to expanding cooperation in the digital economy, AI, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Both leaders also agreed to broaden cooperation in food security, renewables, and more sustainable and progressive financial governance.
“Malaysia also welcomes the signing of various strategic initiatives, including a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the digital economy, as well as the implementation of cross-border energy projects that can support regional growth,” said Anwar in another Facebook post today.
He said Malaysia and Vietnam will continue to strengthen their friendship, which is now driven by a comprehensive strategic partnership.
“ASEAN must continue to move forward as a platform for cooperation based on trust, sustainability and shared progress.
“In an increasingly challenging world, the strength of this region depends on our willingness to strengthen economic, education, and technology networks and collective well-being,” said Anwar.
