HCMC – Vietnam and Malaysia have agreed to enhance legal and judicial cooperation in support of ASEAN’s goals for inclusive and sustainable development, as Malaysia prepares to assume the regional bloc’s chairmanship in 2025.
As part of the Malaysia MADANI Government’s ongoing regional engagement efforts, Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), YB Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, made an official visit to Hanoi. During the trip, she held talks with Vietnam’s Minister of Justice, Nguyen Hai Ninh, focusing on legal reforms, dispute resolution mechanisms, and regional integration.
Both sides discussed priorities in institutional reform, in line with ASEAN’s 2025 theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” YB Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman emphasized the importance of promoting arbitration and mediation as practical, cost-effective tools for resolving commercial disputes, noting their role in supporting trade, investment, and cross-border cooperation.
“Malaysia and Vietnam share a long-standing and robust relationship that has now reached new heights with the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024. Strengthening our legal and judicial cooperation will fortify the foundation of this historic relationship and contribute meaningfully to peace, security, and prosperity in the region,” said YB Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman.
Vietnam is currently Malaysia’s fourth-largest trade partner in ASEAN, while Malaysia is Vietnam’s second-largest trade partner and third-largest ASEAN investor. The two countries have set a target to increase bilateral trade from nearly US$13 billion in 2023 to US$18 billion, underlining the need for a harmonized legal framework to bolster investor confidence and legal certainty.
