Malaysia, Vietnam resolved to bolster all-around ties
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob affirmed their determination to step up co-operation across the board during talks held on March 21 in Hanoi, with a specific focus on socio-economic recovery and development after the pandemic.
During the talks, the Vietnamese Government leader highlighted the significance of PM Yaakob's visit, particularly as it will provide fresh impetus to further ramping up bilateral co-operation. This comes amid both nations’ strategic partnership being maintained for seven years, with both looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023.
PM Chinh congratulated Malaysia on becoming one of the 25 competitive-most economies in the world, as well as expressed his belief that Malaysia will continue to maintain stable growth momentum and continuously improve its global competitiveness.
With regard to the domestic situation, PM Chinh briefed his host on the tremendous achievements the nation has recorded after 35 years of pursuing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process.
In response, PM Yaakob expressed how deeply impressed he has been on Vietnamese development achievements in recent times, as well as his great appreciation for the role of the Party and State in leading the country carry through the safe adaptation and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic as a great contribution to boosting post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development, thereby enhancing the nation’s role and position in the region and the world as a whole.
The Malaysian PM affirmed that his country continues to give high priority to further strengthening ties of close co-operation with Vietnam, particularly as the country represents Malaysia's only strategic partner in Southeast Asia.
The two leaders agreed on directions to promote co-operation across a variety of fields for joint socio-economic recovery and development after the pandemic, with a particular focus on intensifying high-level delegation exchanges, as well as effectively promoting bilateral co-operation mechanisms, including the mechanism of the Joint Committee on Economic - Scientific - Technical Cooperation.
This is along with implementing the Action Program for the 2021 to 2025 period regarding the joint strategic partnership, expanding people-to-people exchanges, and preparing to launch practical and meaningful activities which celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023.
Highlighting economic, trade, and investment co-operation as a bright spot in the two countries' relations, the two leaders said that there remains a lot of potential for both sides to exploit for the cause of common development.
They consented to make every effort to bring bilateral trade turnover to US$18 billion or beyond by 2025 to move in the direction of balanced trade. This is along with strengthening co-operation and trade in goods in which the two countries boast strengths in, such as agricultural and aquatic products, products for Muslims (Halal), the food industry, and electronic components. They agreed to conduct joint research on initiatives relating to building an information exchange mechanism in the field of trade remedies between both sides.
The Malaysian PM affirmed his willingness to support the country in expanding and developing the Halal industry, while PM Chinh suggested that Malaysian companies increase investment in the Vietnamese market in the fields of support industry, high-quality infrastructure, innovation, high -technology and information technology application in digital transformation.
The pair outlined that co-operation in national defence and security has brought about a range of pragmatic results, whilst it has concurred to accelerate the early signing of a memorandum of understanding on bilateral defence collaboration, in addition to enhancing cyber security and maritime co-operation.
They also compared notes on measures aimed at boosting hte partnership in other areas such as food security, labour, education, justice, science-technology, culture, sports, and tourism.
The two PMs welcomed the mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccine passports, which will facilitate greater travel between the two countries, especially following Vietnam fully opening its doors to international visitors from March 15, with Malaysia set to open its borders from April 1.
Concerning regional and international issues of shared concern, the two cabinet leaders hailed the close co-operation at regional and international forums as both sides concurred to join efforts to build a united ASEAN and promote the bloc’s centrality in dealing with emerging regional issues.
With regard to the East Sea issue, they agreed to ramp up co-ordination in information and stance with ASEAN, calling on all concerned parties to exercise restraint, neither use force nor threaten to use force, and observe international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Both PMs underscored the importance of fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), maintaining and promoting a conducive environment for negotiations of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea (COC) to reach a substantive and effective document, in line with international law, including the UNCLOS 1982.
Following talks, the PMs witnessed the exchange of a number of co-operation documents, including an MoU on recruitment, employment, and repatriation of labourers, and another on legal co-operation between the Vietnamese and Malaysian governments. There was also a co-operation agreement signed between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), as well as a letter of intent on co-operation between the two diplomatic academies of both foreign ministries.