President Vo Van Thuong receives Malaysian Prime Minister on the occasion of attending APEC Summit Week 2023

President Vo Van Thuong receives Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. *Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA*

In an open and friendly atmosphere, the two leaders expressed their pleasure at meeting again after the Malaysian Prime Minister's official visit to Vietnam last July. The Malaysian Prime Minister expressed his deep impression of the visit to Vietnam and sincerely thanked the Vietnamese side for the warm welcome. The two leaders welcomed the strong development of the Vietnam - Malaysia strategic partnership.

President Vo Van Thuong sent his regards to the King and Queen of Malaysia and congratulated the King on completing a very successful term of office, which has significantly contributed to stabilizing Malaysia and building a harmonious and prosperous society. The President affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to the multifaceted cooperation with Malaysia, Vietnam's leading important partner in ASEAN. The President thanked Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his affection for Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, and expressed his delight that the two countries' senior leaders regularly have the opportunity to meet and exchange views, demonstrating the spirit of close cooperation between the two countries.

To continue to strongly promote bilateral cooperation, the President proposed that both sides implement the results of the 7th meeting of the Joint Committee, promptly complete negotiations and sign Agreements and Agreements to create the foundation and framework for deeper cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

The President hoped that the two sides would work together to promote trade and investment, striving to reach a turnover of 18 billion USD in the coming time; and hoped that the Malaysian Government would pay attention to supporting Vietnamese enterprises to produce and export Halal products to the Malaysian market. The President thanked and hoped that Malaysia would expand its support for Vietnam in the field of staff training and expanding local cooperation, first of all by signing a sister city agreement between Hoi An and Melaka. President Vo Van Thuong asked Malaysia to create conditions for Vietnam to lobby the European Union (EU) to remove the yellow card for Vietnam's seafood industry; and at the same time, suggested that the two countries continue to coordinate effectively in the repatriation of Vietnamese fishermen.

For his part, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shared the proposals of President Vo Van Thuong and affirmed that Malaysia attaches special importance to the multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam. The Prime Minister expressed his impression of Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements in recent times and affirmed his desire to promote cooperation with Vietnam in economics, trade, investment, and enhance cooperation in human resource training.

The two sides affirmed that they will continue to coordinate closely at regional and international forums such as the United Nations and APEC...; strive to maintain ASEAN's solidarity and central role, contribute to building a strong, united and self-reliant ASEAN Community, and support Laos in completing its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.

Discussing issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea, the two leaders agreed to support maintaining a common viewpoint on ensuring peace and stability, seriously implementing the DOC, and aiming to achieve a substantive and effective COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his wish to welcome President Vo Van Thuong to visit Malaysia as soon as possible.

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