Vietnam and Malaysia have agreed on stronger cooperation in national defence-security, labour, oil and gas, education-training, farming and aquaculture.

The agreement was reached during President Truong Tan Sang’s meeting with visiting Malaysian Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah in Hanoi on September 6, right after a welcome ceremony on the same day.

Noting with pleasure their friendship and all-around cooperation over the past time, both sides raised ways to enhance Vietnam-Malaysia links in concrete realms.

President Sang hailed Malaysia as one of Vietnam’s top trading partners and investors. He promised all possible support for Malaysian firms to do business in the country.

Both host and guest highly valued the activities to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year and agreed that visits by high-ranking delegations as well as cooperation among ministries, departments and localities, and people-to-people exchanges should go on.

Turning their attention to regional and global issues of mutual interest, the host suggested the two sides continue working closely at regional and international forums, especially those within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the United Nations.

He spoke highly of Malaysia’s stance on the East Sea issue and recommended continued bilateral efforts with other ASEAN member states in this matter.

On the evening of the same day, President Sang hosted a banquet in honour of Sultan Abdul Shah and his entourage.-VNA