As two geographically close nations that share historical and cultural similarities, Viet Nam and Malaysia have continuously made efforts to enhance mutual understanding and work together towards building a united and prosperous ASEAN Community.
Situated in Southeast Asia, Viet Nam and Malaysia have engaged in trade for centuries. The two countries have diverse cultures, rich in identity, value unity in diversity, and deeply understand the value of independence and freedom. In a world full of volatility, Viet Nam and Malaysia align in terms of strategic interests and hold common views on various global issues.
The two countries officially established diplomatic relations in 1973. Looking back on over half a century of cooperation, the comprehensive friendship and cooperation have steadily advanced across multiple fields, yielding significant and tangible benefits for both peoples and contributing meaningfully to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Southeast Asian region.
2024 marked a brilliant milestone in Viet Nam–Malaysia relations as the two sides agreed to upgrade their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. According to Le Hoai Trung, member of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the PCC’s Commission for External Relations, the establishment of this framework has laid an essential foundation and direction for bilateral cooperation in the new era, centred around four key pillars: strengthening cooperation in politics, defence and security; enhancing economic connectivity for sustainable development; expanding collaboration in emerging areas such as digital transformation, clean energy, and new technologies; and stepping up coordination on international and multilateral issues.
These achievements have created prominent highlights in the relationship between the two Southeast Asian nations. Political trust continues to be reinforced, while economic cooperation has deepened considerably. Malaysia is currently Viet Nam’s third-largest trading partner within ASEAN. Bilateral trade in 2024 reached 14.2 billion USD.
Experts note that Malaysia’s market boasts strong purchasing power, diverse consumer demands, and consumer cultural similarities with Viet Nam. Both countries’ participation in numerous regional free trade agreements further facilitates bilateral trade. In addition to economic ties, cooperation in education, culture, and tourism has continued to grow, fostering deeper mutual understanding and appreciation of traditional values among their peoples.
In multilateral cooperation, Viet Nam and Malaysia support each other’s candidacies for international organisations and collaborate effectively within ASEAN and other regional and global forums. During official meetings and exchanges, Vietnamese leaders have repeatedly affirmed their support for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, pledging close coordination with Malaysia and all ASEAN member states in realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
According to Malaysian Ambassador to Viet Nam, Dato’ Tan Yang Thai, as ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia is committed to fostering a spirit of cooperation among member states and ensuring ASEAN continues to grow as a resilient, united, and forward-looking community. To successfully fulfil its role, Malaysia will work closely with all member states, including Viet Nam as a key partner.
With growing stature and influence in the region and beyond, Viet Nam and Malaysia are striving to elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to new heights, with many more outstanding cooperation highlights. The strong friendship, solidarity, unity, and practical, effective cooperation between the two countries serve as a vital foundation for building a cohesive, resilient, and prosperous ASEAN Community.
