The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Party will make tireless efforts to consolidate and further develop the traditional solidarity and friendship between the Malaysian and Vietnamese people as well as its relations with the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

Vice President of the UMNO Dato Seri Dr. Amid Zahid Hamidi made the statement while meeting with Le Hong Anh, standing member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat, in Hanoi on May 15 as part of his four-day visit to Vietnam.

Hamidi, who is also Minister of Home Affairs, expressed his admiration at the great achievements Vietnam has made during its renewal process.

He thanked the CPV for its sharing of experience in Party building and personnel training, expressing his belief that under the leadership of the CPV, the Vietnamese people will successfully implement their industrialisation and modernisation cause, thus improving the country’s position in the regional and global arenas.

The Malaysian official raised concern about recent tense developments in the East Sea , saying that China ’s acts violated the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), to which China is a signatory.

He urged China to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam and other neighbouring countries.

Welcoming the Malaysian delegation, Anh said the visit will practically contribute to further promoting the friendship between the two Parties and two peoples.

He thanked the Malaysian Government led by the UMNO for its cooperation with Vietnam in regional and international forums as well as its support for Vietnamese workers in the country.

In the coming time, the two sides should continue fostering their relations, especially the exchange of delegations and the sharing of experience in implementing economic development and national construction policies, Anh said.

He expressed his wish that the UMNO, as the ruling party in Malaysia, will continue making active contributions to promoting the Vietnam-Malaysia relationship towards a strategic partnership.

Earlier, the Malaysian guests held talks with a CPV delegation led by Hoang Binh Quan, member of the Party Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations.

The two sides discussed concrete measures to strengthen relations between the two Parties and the two countries in the time ahead and signed a memorandum of understanding on boosting cooperation and exchanges between the two Parties.-VNA