Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato’ Tan Yang Thai (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA)– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on April 7 forMalaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato’ Tan Yang Thai who was newly appointed.
PM Chinh assured thediplomat that Vietnam always treasures friendship and strategic partnership withMalaysia. He wished that during his tenure, the ambassador would activelyuphold his role as an important bridge promoting the extensive and effectivedevelopment of bilateral ties.
The host suggested that the diplomat facilitate the exchange ofall-level delegations, and effectively deploy bilateral cooperation mechanisms,including the Vietnam-Malaysia Joint Committee forEconomic-Scientific-Technological Cooperation and the Joint Trade Committee. He also suggested coordinating efforts to hold practical activities marking the 50th anniversary ofVietnam-Malaysia diplomatic ties (1973-2023), step up national defence and security cooperation,especially in combating transnational, drug and cyber crimes; and furtherpropel collaboration in culture, sports, tourism, and people-to-peopleexchange.
According to him,two-way trade hit nearly 15 billion USD last year, up over 17% annually.Malaysia remained the second biggest ASEAN investor in Vietnam with a totalregistered capital of 13 billion USD.
ThePM proposed that Malaysia create more favourable conditions for Vietnam's goodsand services to navigate the country, including products meeting Halalstandards, toward achieving the goal of 18 billion USD in two-way trade in thedirection of reducing Vietnam’s trade deficit.
Healso suggested tapping opportunities from regional trade agreements such as theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) while expandingcoordination in the digital economy, circular economy and green economy.
Vietnamis ready to offer all possible support to foreign investors, including thosefrom Malaysia, to do business in the country, he said.
AmbassadorDato' Tan Yang Thai, for his part, pledged to further carry forward bilateralcooperation during his tenure, especially in fields of the two countries'potential and strength like agriculture, Halal industry, education and training,digital transformation, cyber security, and sci-tech.
Heagreed to strengthen cooperation at sea and closely coordinate to resolve issuesrelated to fishermen and boats. The guest vowed to work with relevant agenciesto hold activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomaticrelations, including high-level visits.
Malaysiais ready to welcome foreign workers following the COVID-19 pandemic, includingVietnamese workers in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding on labourcooperation recently signed by the two countries in March 2022, he said.
Onregional issues, the ambassador agreed with the PM's opinion on the need tocontinue strengthening ASEAN’s unity and central role, maintaining ASEAN'scommon stance on the East Sea, striving to build the East Sea into a water ofpeace and cooperation, and successfully formulating an effective and efficient Codeof Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law,especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.
