Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on Feb. 9 paid a courtesy visit to former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur .

Former PM Mahathir appraised the fruitful development in the relations between the two countries and expressed his belief that Vietnam will reap more successes in the modernisation process, and in the cause of industrialisation.

The former PM said he wishes that Vietnam and Malaysia will continue their cooperation in all areas, especially economics, trade, investment, security, national defence, education and tourism.

As members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysia and Vietnam need to continue coordinating closely in regional and international forums while working with other ASEAN countries in building the ASEAN Community by 2015, he said.

For his part, Minh spoke highly of former PM Mahathir’s contributions to building and developing the relations between the two countries.

He expressed his wish that the former PM will visit Vietnam again to share his experience in economic development.

Later the same day, Minh and his entourage headed for home, successfully wrapping up the Malaysia visit./.