KL, Hanoi to fight border crimes

KL, Hanoi to fight border crimes

MALAYSIA: Malaysia and Vietnam vowed to strengthen cooperation on
combating transnational crime and signed agreements on education,
information technology and trade on Wednesday during a visit by
Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

Khai held talks with Malaysian counterpart Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi in the administrative capital, Putrajaya, before the
leaders witnessed the signing of three documents aimed at
strengthening bilateral relations and trade.

Describing the talks as "fruitful," Abdullah said he and Khai
discussed ways their countries could improve cooperation to fight
cross-border crime such as money laundering and drug trafficking,
and expanding trade in the oil and gas industry.

He said they didn't discuss Vietnam's recent decision to send
sightseers aboard a navy vessel to the disputed Spratly Islands,
which are claimed wholly or in part by six countries, including
Malaysia.

Khai, accompanied by five ministers, nine vice ministers,
senior officials and business leaders, also had an audience with
Malaysia's king, and addressed a forum of Malaysian and
Vietnamese business leaders. --AP