Vietnamese Foreign Ministry steps up cooperation with Thai and Malaysian counterparts
VOV.VN - Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held separate meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara and Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan on January 29 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers(AMM)' Retreat which is underway in Luang Prabang, Laos.
At the meeting with the Thai Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs, both sides rejoiced over the positive development of relations between the two countries.
FM Son hailed the results of the official visit made to Vietnam by the Thai Deputy PM and Foreign Minister back in October, 2023, outlining his belief that co-operation between the two foreign ministries will become increasingly closer whilst enhancing the role of connecting and stepping up links between the two countries across multiple fields.
The two sides agreed to intensify high-level delegation exchanges and implement important co-operation contents, including the programme of the Thai PM’s official visit to Vietnam combined with the fourth Vietnam-Thailand joint Cabinet meeting.
As part of this occasion, the Thai Foreign Minister invited FM Son to pay an official visit to Thailand and co-chair the fifth meeting of the Vietnam-Thailand Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation slated for April.
At the meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Hasan, FM Son congratulated the Minister on his appointment to the position, going on to express his appreciation and desire to further advance the joint strategic partnership.
The two FMs consented to continue accelerating the implementation of collaboration contents as approved by the two countries' senior leaders in the Action Program to realise the strategic partnership for the 2021 to 2025 period and the outcomes of the first Vietnam - Malaysia Joint Committee.
Regarding areas of bilateral ties, the Malaysian FM concurred to co-ordinate in organising high-level visits at appropriate times and affirmed his side’s support for Vietnam in developing the Halal industry, an industry that provides products and services that meet Muslim standards, whilst also creating further conditions for Vietnamese agricultural products and Halal products to penetrate the Malaysian market.
He also voiced his support for Vietnamese efforts for the European Commission (EC)’ removal of the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) "yellow card" placed against Vietnamese seafood.
The two FMs agreed to co-ordinate closely and support Laos in successfully assuming the role of ASEAN Chair 2024, while also reinforcing solidarity within the bloc for the cause of peace and prosperity in the region.
The Malaysian FM acknowledged Vietnamese initiative to host the "ASEAN Future Forum on rapid, sustainable, people-centered development”, with the event set to take place in April. He therefore promised that he will convey PM Chinh's invitation to Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim to attend the forum.
