President Vo Van Thuong receives Malaysian Prime Minister

On the afternoon of July 21, at the Presidential Palace,President Vo Van Thuong received Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the occasion of his official visit to Vietnam.

President Vo Van Thuong receives Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The President welcomed and congratulated Mr. Anwar Ibrahim on his first visit to Vietnam as Prime Minister of Malaysia; emphasizing that the visit is of great significance, helping to create new momentum for the strategic partnership between the two countries. The President also respectfully conveyed his regards to the King and Queen of Malaysia; congratulated the Malaysian Government on successfully implementing its socio-economic development policies; achieved high GDP growth rates; and expressed his belief that Malaysia will successfully implement the 12th Five-Year Plan (MP 12) and the Malaysia Madani strategy, helping the country develop sustainably and prosperously, with an increasingly high role and position in the region and the world. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his joy at his first official visit to Vietnam; admired Vietnam's past struggle for national independence and its current success in socio-economic development; emphasized that Vietnam has an important role in ASEAN and affirmed that Malaysia always attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. On this occasion, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim respectfully conveyed the invitation of the Malaysian King to President Vo Van Thuong to visit Malaysia at a suitable time in 2023 - the year the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, emphasizing the expectation of welcoming the President in Malaysia and will direct relevant Malaysian agencies to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to carefully prepare for the visit. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive and substantive results in the relationship between the two countries after 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations, especially cooperation in labor, education and training, tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchange after the COVID-19 pandemic has become vibrant again. The two leaders welcomed the promotion of relations through the Party, State, and Government channels; increased exchanges of high-level delegations and at all levels; and enhanced cooperation in defense, security, economy, trade, investment, education and training, tourism, culture, food security, and people-to-people exchange. The Malaysian Prime Minister emphasized the importance of sharing experiences and exchanges between socio-political organizations and young leaders of the two countries; expressed admiration for the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh, and wanted to popularize Uncle Ho's poetry collection "Prison Diary" in Malaysia.

President Vo Van Thuong receives Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Discussing international and regional issues, the two leaders appreciated the close coordination between the two countries at regional and international forums; emphasized the importance of maintaining solidarity and the central role of ASEAN; and working together to build a strong and resilient ASEAN Community. President Vo Van Thuong suggested that the two sides continue to coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums, maintain ASEAN's common viewpoint on the East Sea, ensure full and serious implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); promote negotiations and build an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). On this occasion, President Vo Van Thuong respectfully invited the King and Queen of Malaysia to visit Vietnam at a suitable time. The Malaysian Prime Minister thanked them and emphasized that he would convey the invitation to the King and Queen of Malaysia.

VNA/Tin Tuc Newspaper

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