Vietnamese and Malaysian parliamentary leaders hold talks in Hanoi

The Vietnamese top legislator welcomed the Malaysian Speaker’s official visit from October 22-25, saying that the trip takes place at a time when both nations are looking forward the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership in 2025.

The visit by the Malaysian parliamentary leader contributes to strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations between the two nations across various areas as well as stepping up the practical and effective cooperation between the Vietnamese and Malaysian legislatures.

Man showed his elation at the positive and practical development of the bilateral ties over the past half-century via the Party, State, and people-to-people exchange channels and in a variety of areas.

Congratulating Malaysia on its tremendous economic achievements, which have helped the country to become one of the top 27 competitive economies in the world, Man expressed his confidence that the Malaysian House of Representatives will play a pivotal role in driving national economic development, improving living standards of local people and elevating Malaysia's global and regional positions.

Johari affirmed that Vietnam and Malaysia are important parts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the two countries are working hand in hand to drive economic growth and share sci-tech and energy achievements.

Vietnam treasures and desires to further strengthen its Strategic Partnership with Malaysia towards more substantive and effective relations, while affirming the Vietnamese NA’s readiness to offer all possible support for cooperation between the two nations.

Noting the huge potential for trade and tourism development, the Vietnamese NA leader proposed stepping up collaboration in investment, technology, tourism, trade and energy, thereby expanding trade opportunities and fully tapping each side's comparative advantages.

To further solidify the bilateral strategic partnership, Man suggested Malaysia continue facilitating the exchange of all-level delegations, and effectively carry oug existing cooperation mechanisms and agreements, toward raising two-way trade to US$18 billion in a balanced manner.

The two sides should support training on the Halal production process and certification for Vietnamese localities and businesses, further facilitate the import of Halal products from Vietnam and strive to soon sign a cooperation agreement in the Halal sector, Man went on.

In addition, Vietnam and Malaysia should explore the possibility of operating more direct flights connecting famous destinations between the two countries to enhance trade and tourism, ramp  up collaboration on training workforce in areas where both sides have strengths and needs, such as sci-tech, information technology, economy and education management.

Appreciating Malaysia's stance on dealing with the East Sea issue, Man said both sides need to collaborate with other ASEAN member states to uphold ASEAN's viewpoint on the East Sea matter, accelerate the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and negotiate an effective and practical Code of Conduct on the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Concerning the relationship between the Vietnamese and Malaysian legislatures, Man said that he is glad to see that the relationship has been consolidated and strengthened both bilaterally and within the framework of international and regional inter-parliamentary forums of which both sides are members, most recently at the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45).

He suggested that in the coming time, the two sides should study and speed up the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese NA and the Malaysian House of Representatives and Senate, which will create a foundation to promote and deepen cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries.

Welcoming Malaysia's establishment of the "Malaysia - Vietnam Friendship Association" in 2022, Man said he hoped that the Malaysian House of Representatives will continue to offer favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, work and study in Malaysia.

He also expected that the Malaysian House of Representatives will continue to create a favourable legal corridor for the two governments to effectively implement signed cooperation agreements, especially the action programme to carry out the Vietnam - Malaysia strategic partnership for the 2021-2025 period.

The host leader proposed increasing high-level and all-level meetings between parliamentarians of the two countries and the two friendship parliamentary groups to exchange experiences in the field of legislation, supervision and decision-making on important issues of each country.

He said he hopes that the Malaysian parliament, in its role as AIPA Chair 2025, will keep promoting strong cooperation within AIPA, contributing to deepening relations between ASEAN parliaments and creating a space for effective and substantive dialogue on important regional issues.

Man also proposed augmenting cooperation between the Vietnamese NA’s Office and the Secretariat of the Malaysian House of Representatives, especially in the fields of staff training and exchanging experience in research and consultancy.

For his part, Johari acknowledged Man’s proposals, affirming that he will exert greater efforts to coordinate with Vietnamese agencies to promote the early resolution of issues in the spirit of the strategic partnership between the two nations.

On this occasion, he respectfully invited the Vietnamese top legislator and senior leaders of Vietnam to visit and attend ASEAN and AIPA Summits in 2025 when Malaysia assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship and AIPA Chairmanship.

The top Vietnamese legislator hosted an official banquet for the Malaysian guests on the evening of the same day.