Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh says Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s ongoing visit to Vietnam is very important, creating a new impetus for consolidating and promoting the bilateral relationship. During talks with his Malaysian counterpart on Monday in Hanoi, Mr. Chinh said the highlight of the Vietnam-Malaysia relationship is economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, two-way trade reached 12.5 billion USD last year, up more than 25% from the previous year.

In ASEAN, Malaysia is Vietnam’s second largest investor and Vietnam is Malaysia’s third largest trading partner.

The two leaders agreed on the direction for cooperation in all fields to promote joint socio-economic recovery and development following the pandemic and on boosting bilateral trade turnover to 18 billion USD or higher by 2025.

They also saw eye to eye on strengthening cooperation and trade in areas where the two enjoy advantages – agriculture and aquatic products, the food industry, electronic components, education, culture, sports, and tourism.

Prime Minister Yaakob said he is very impressed with Vietnam’s development achievements, and praised the Vietnamese government for safely adapting to and effectively controlling the pandemic while recovering and developing socio-economic activities.

The Malaysian PM is scheduled to meet with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.

The two countries are looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 7th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

Source: VOV5