KOTA KINABALU: French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian has described the existing cooperation between France and Malaysia, including in the field of defence, as a strategic cooperation which is significant to his country.
Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said Le Drian had asked him to convey to the media that France desired to see more cooperation opportunities between France and Malaysia in future including in the form of aid and training, particularly with the RMN.
“I have been given the mandate by the French Defence Minister (to announce) that he was very satisfied with what he saw (throughout his visit to the Submarine Force Base at the RMN Base here),” Abdul Aziz told reporters here yesterday.
The Malaysian Navy Chief said the French Defence Minister had visited the Malaysian Submarine Force Base to look at the development achieved by this country’s submarine force since it was set up 11 years ago.
Abdul Aziz said Le Drian had told him that he was impressed with the development and growth achieved by the Malaysian Submarine Force because not many nations could achieve such progress within 10 years.
Le Drian was scheduled to have a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein at the federal capital tomorrow.
Also accompanying the French Defence Minister’s visit to Malaysia were the French Ambassador to Malaysia, Christophe Penot and Commander of Marine Region 2, Rear Admiral Datuk Mohammad Rosland Omar.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz said the RMN described Le Drian’s visit to the Malaysian Submarine Force Base as a reflection of the strong bilateral cooperation between France and Malaysia. — Bernama