Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan hosted a reception for incoming Malaysian Consul General Sofian Akmal Bin Abd. Karim on June 16.

The new diplomat expressed his delight at working in the Vietnamese southern economic hub, noting that cooperation between the two countries has been thriving, especially since they agreed to work towards a strategic partnership last year.

Malaysian businesses have invested more than 5 billion USD in HCM City thus far, making the country one of the five biggest investors in the city, he added.

For his part, Chairman Quan said he hopes the Consul General will take the initiative to foster cooperation between Malaysia and Vietnam—and with HCM City in particular—for mutual benefit.

Vietnam and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in March 1973.-VNA