KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính's official visit to Malaysia from May 24 to May 28 is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and Asean solidarity, said Vietnam’s Ambassador to Malaysia Đinh Ngọc Linh.
The visit aligns with Vietnam’s foreign policy of promoting friendly neighbourliness and a comprehensive strategic partnership with Malaysia.
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in Kuala Lumpur, he said the visit comes at a time when relations between the two countries are flourishing across multiple areas.
These include politics, diplomacy, defence and security, economy, tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchange.
Đinh noted that leaders of both countries have maintained regular contact through phone calls, official visits and meetings during major regional and global forums.
During the visit, Chính is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and other senior leaders.
The leaders are expected to share national development perspectives and discuss strategic directions to elevate bilateral cooperation.
Focus areas include political trust, defence-security, trade, investment, labour, tourism, and people-to-people exchange.
Emerging sectors like green economy, digital economy, artificial intelligence, innovation, and science and technology will also be explored.
Regarding regional and global issues, both sides are expected to agree on ways to enhance coordination on international platforms.
This includes joint efforts to strengthen Asean unity and uphold the bloc’s centrality.
Đinh added that the Vietnamese Embassy views the visit and Chinh’s attendance at the 46th Asean Summit as a top political priority for 2025. As such it is working closely with relevant agencies to ensure a smooth and well-prepared visit.
He expressed hope that the visit would lead to an action plan to implement the strategic partnership and advance key cooperation agreements.
The visit is also seen as an opportunity to leverage existing mechanisms like the Vietnam-Malaysia Joint Commission and the Joint Trade Committee, as these platforms could unlock new potential and foster a favourable environment for growth.
Đinh highlighted that economic, trade, and investment ties remain central to the Vietnam-Malaysia relationship.
Malaysia is currently Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner and third-largest investor in Asean.
In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$14.2 billion (RM60 billion), up 20 per cent from 2023, moving closer to the US$18 billion (RM76.1 billion) target.
He noted that both countries hold complementary strengths, especially in the halal industry, green economy, digital transformation, and renewable energy.
— Bernama
