(VOVWORLD) - Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob is now on an official visit to Vietnam, his first Vietnam visit since he took office last August. This visit is an opportunity for the two countries, who established diplomatic ties 49 years ago and a strategic partnership 7 years ago, to uplift bilateral ties.
 Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob (photo: VNA) |
Sound development of bilateral ties
Vietnam and Malaysia established diplomatic ties in 1973 and a strategic partnership in 2015. The two countries are implementing an Action Program to enhance their strategic partnership in the 2021-2025 period. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, exchanges, dialogues, and talks between the two countries’ leaders have been maintained.
A number of bilateral cooperation mechanisms have been in place, including the Vietnam-Malaysia Joint Committee for Economic, Science, and Technology Cooperation, the Defense Cooperation Committee, the Vietnam-Malaysia Joint Committee for Trade, and the Committee for Science and Technology Cooperation.
In ASEAN, Malaysia was Vietnam’s second largest trade partner and Vietnam was Malaysia’s 3rd largest trade partner in 2021. Two-way trade totaled 12.5 billion USD last year, 25.3% higher than in 2020.
In January and February, total import-export value between Vietnam and Malaysia was 2.2 billion USD, up 20% against 2021.
Malaysia is Vietnam’s second largest investor in ASEAN (after Singapore), and ranks 10th among 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with a registered capital of 13 billion USD.
More than 1,000 Vietnamese are studying in Malaysia.
Vietnam has provided medical aid worth 50,000 USD and 20,000 medical facemasks to help Malaysia fight COVID-19.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob (photo: VNA) |
Bilateral cooperation enhanced
The Malaysian Prime Minister’s visit to Vietnam is of great importance as the 2 sides will discuss current issues of mutual concern and explore new areas of cooperation.
Malaysia wants to develop a digital economic ecosystem with Vietnam and strengthen cooperation in high-tech agriculture, smart production, renewable energy, fintech, and cyber security.
The visit is expected to open up new opportunities for stronger cooperation between the two countries’ leaders, governments, businesses, and peoples.