General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong has underlined Vietnam ’s dedication to developing ties with Malaysia.

Receiving the visiting Malaysian Prime Minister and leader of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Party Najib Tun Abdul Razak in Hanoi on April 4, General Secretary Trong said the two countries should strengthen their all-round cooperation.

He said Vietnam and Malaysia should focus on fostering partnership in promising areas of trade, investment, agriculture, labour, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people contact, as well as in the ASEAN framework and regional and international forums.

Vietnam always welcomes Malaysian businesses, and will create all possible conditions for them to invest in the country, he said.

The Party leader proposed that CPV and UMNO continue to strengthen their links by increasing high-level meetings, delegation exchanges and enhancing the sharing of experience in party building.

He said he hopes to welcome a high-ranking UMNO delegation in Hanoi at an early date.

General Secretary Trong also expressed his sympathy over the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 and the 239 people on board.

For his part, Prime Minister Najib briefed his host on the outcomes of his earlier talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, during which they affirmed the determination to lift up bilateral ties to strategic partnership level, and strengthen collaboration at regional and international forums, especially ASEAN.

He said the Malaysia, as the ASEAN Chair in 2015, will coordinate tightly with Vietnam in the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the region as well as the building of an ASEAN Community.

Lauding the relations between the UMNO and the CPV, the Malaysian PM said he hopes the two sides will further foster cooperation in the future by sending high-level delegations to share with each other leadership and management experience.

He said Malaysia appreciates Vietnam’s help in the search for MH370 in the East Sea, which showed responsibility, a spirit of solidarity and the willingness of Vietnam to help a neighbour in need.-VNA