Foreign ministry fosters cooperation with Thai, Malaysian peers

Luang Prabang (VNA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son had meetings with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara and Malaysian Foreign Minister Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan in Luang Phrabang, Laos on January 29 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat.

At Son’s meeting with Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, the two sides shared the delight at the growth of bilateral relations.

Son spoke highly the outcomes of the Thai official to Vietnam in October 2023, and expressed his belief that the foreign ministries of Vietnam and Thailand will continue their close cooperation, contributing to promoting collaboration between the two countries across all fields.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and work closely together in important activities, including the Thai PM’s official visit to Vietnam for the fourth Vietnam-Thailand joint cabinet meeting.

The Thai FM invited Son to visit Thailand and co-chair the fifth Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation in April.

At the meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan, Son affirmed that Vietnam wants to further promote the strategic partnership with Malaysia.

The two FMs concurred to continue to collaborate in implementing cooperation content agreed by the senior leaders of the two countries, which are stated in the action programme to implement the bilateral strategic partnership in the 2021-2025 period, as well as the outcomes of the seventh meeting of the Vietnam-Malaysia Joint Committee.

The Malaysian FM agreed to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to organise high-level visits by senior leaders of the two countries in the coming time, and pledged to support Vietnam to develop the Halal industry and provide better conditions for Vietnamese agricultural and Halal products to be sold in the Malaysian market. He also showed support for Vietnam’s efforts to remove the European Commission’s “yellow card” against Vietnamese seafood exports.

The two sides agreed to cooperate with and assist Laos in performing the role of ASEAN Chair in 2024, and foster intra-bloc solidarity for peace and prosperity in the region.

The Malaysian FM acknowledged Vietnam’s idea to host a ASEAN future forum on fast, sustainable and people-centred development in April, saying that he will forward Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh’s invitation to Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim to attend the event./.