KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Defence today said Senior Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pix) and his counterpart Nobuo Kishi had discussed the matter during a video conference held yesterday (April 15).
“The ministers agreed to maintain close interactions at all levels and encouraged the resumption of active engagements, including the bilateral meeting between both ministries, training exchanges between the armed forces and cooperation in the field of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
“During the call, they also explored potential areas of collaboration in the defence industry,” the statement said.
The two ministers also touched on the regional security issues of mutual interest and common concern, including the South China Sea as well as the situation in Myanmar and the Korean Peninsula, the statement added.
Malaysia and Japan signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation and Exchanges in September 2018.
Both sides also inked an agreement over the transfer of defence equipment and technology the same year.
-Bernama
