(VOVWORLD) - Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Saturday praised Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s first official visit to Brunei Darussalam as a new impetus for cooperation between the two countries.
 PM Pham Minh Chinh and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah hold talks on February 11, 2023, with the participation of the Brunei Darussalam Royal family. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA) |
During talks with the Vietnamese PM, Sultan Bolkiah reiterated that Brunei treasures and always wants to develop cooperation with Vietnam.
The meeting was attended by all members of the Brunei Darussalam Royal family.
PM Chinh reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of promoting its comprehensive partnership with Brunei.
The leaders hailed growing bilateral ties in all areas, noting that two-way trade hit 720 million USD last year, up 134% over 2021. They agreed to boost trade in a more diverse and balanced manner, tighten cooperation in aquaculture and seafood processing toward signing an MoU on agricultural and fisheries cooperation, and enhance cooperation in the oil and gas sector.
The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in defense, security, education, and aviation.
They underlined the importance of peace, stability, safety, security, and freedom of navigation in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), and coordination in maintaining ASEAN’s solidarity and common view in the East Sea issue and ensuring progress in negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
The leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of the Action Plan on the implementation of Vietnam-Brunei comprehensive partnership for the 2023-2027 period.
Later the same day, PM Chinh left Brunei, concluding a 3-day official visit to Singapore and Brunei. The successful visit demonstrates Vietnam's foreign policy of prioritizing relations with neighboring countries and ASEAN states.