Prime Minister's working trip to Malaysia: New vision, new future

The welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Malaysia was solemnly held at Perdana Square, in front of the Prime Minister's Office, in the capital Kuala Lumpur - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

During his working trip, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a busy schedule with more than 40 diverse and rich activities, both bilateral and multilateral, leaving a clear mark and achieving many important results, contributing to enhancing the position and image of Vietnam as well as opening up new opportunities for cooperation and investment between Vietnam and other countries.

Vietnam – Malaysia: A model of cooperation in the region

This is the first visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Malaysia in 10 years and the first visit to Malaysia by a key Vietnamese leader after the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the official visit to Malaysia by General Secretary To Lam (November 2024).

On the other hand, since the beginning of 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Malaysian Prime Minister have had four meetings, both in person and online; including two phone calls in April alone, right before this summit.

During the visit, the Government of Malaysia - Vietnam's first comprehensive strategic partner in ASEAN - gave the Prime Minister and his delegation a warm and respectful welcome - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The visit achieved many important results, creating a strong impetus to bring the Vietnam - Malaysia relationship into a new stage of development. The two countries sent clear messages of trust, strategy, political determination and implementation to realize agreements and messages into concrete actions, bringing about specific products and measurable results.

During the visit, the Government of Malaysia - Vietnam's first Comprehensive Strategic Partner in ASEAN - gave the Prime Minister and his delegation a warm and respectful welcome; showing special respect for Vietnam - Malaysia's only Comprehensive Strategic Partner in Asia.

While the official welcoming ceremony before the talks was solemn with the highest rituals, after the talks ended, the host Malaysia saw off Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with traditional dances and expressed very close feelings, when the two Prime Ministers "dropped hearts" with Malaysian children. At the joint press conference, the Malaysian Prime Minister reiterated that "Vietnam holds a special place in the hearts" of Malaysians.

The two Prime Ministers had a very successful meeting in all aspects, discussing comprehensive, substantive and comprehensive issues - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

"Personally, I am happy to welcome you as a friend; just as we consider Vietnam a very close friend of Malaysia," he said. For his part, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared that he felt "like he was holding a cabinet meeting at home" because of the welcome from his friend.

Malaysian leaders highly appreciated Vietnam's position and role, as the Malaysian Prime Minister assessed that Vietnam is undergoing historic economic progress, from a country devastated by war, to remarkable development in just a few decades. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that a strong, comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable Malaysia is also a joy, a driving force and an inspiration for Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had substantive and effective discussions with senior leaders of Malaysia. In particular, the two Prime Ministers had very successful talks in all aspects, discussing comprehensive, substantive and comprehensive issues; the two sides shared and understood each other better, and were more determined to promote the bilateral relationship to a new level, commensurate with the wishes of both sides and commensurate with the different potentials, outstanding opportunities and competitive advantages of the two countries.

The strong bond between the two countries contributes significantly to writing the story of Southeast Asia united in diversity, solidarity and self-reliance, rapid and sustainable development, inclusiveness and prosperity - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The two sides quickly completed the Action Program to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the 2025-2030 period, aiming to sign it this year; agreed to coordinate the organization of annual meetings between the two Prime Ministers; promote cooperation in defense and security, contributing to the goal of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Along with that, connecting the two economies, promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation, especially in the fields of agriculture, rice, food and foodstuffs; agreeing to strive to bring bilateral trade turnover to 20 billion USD by 2030 in a balanced direction; limiting the application of trade barriers and facilitating the import and export of goods with potential and strengths of both sides; especially Vietnam has a lot of potential and conditions to develop the Halal food industry but needs support from Malaysia and promoting cooperation with Gulf countries in this field.

The two sides will also promote cultural cooperation, tourism and people-to-people exchange. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh took the opportunity to express his gratitude and hope that the Malaysian Government will continue to support the community of more than 30,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working in Malaysia, promoting its role as a bridge to promote friendly relations between the two countries.

If the official welcoming ceremony before the talks took place solemnly with the highest rituals, then after the talks ended, the host Malaysia saw off Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with traditional dances and expressed very close feelings, when the two Prime Ministers "liked" with Malaysian children - Photo: Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia

In particular, the two sides also agreed to promote cooperation in education, training of high-quality human resources, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, and data connection between the two countries and within ASEAN to develop artificial intelligence; this is a very important new pillar of cooperation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said: When Vietnam and Malaysia invest together in knowledge, we will together create a Southeast Asia that is not only a production center but also a center of ideas; not only a place to apply technology but also a place to create future knowledge and technology; not only a place to receive creativity but also to create for development.

Sharing the belief that "knowledge is power, when two countries share, connect knowledge, and invest in future generations, all limits can be overcome and new miracles will be established", the Prime Minister expressed that Vietnam is ready to cooperate more closely with Malaysia in education and training and the fields of science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation for the common goal.

"It can be affirmed that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is being increasingly consolidated and enhanced, becoming a model of cooperation in ASEAN: politically stable, economically strong, culturally profound, and broad in vision; sharing the goal of independence and sovereignty, for the happiness and prosperity of the people," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized.

At the same time, the strong bond between the two countries contributes significantly to writing the story of Southeast Asia united in diversity, solidarity and self-reliance, rapid and sustainable development, inclusiveness and prosperity.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomes Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to attend the 46th ASEAN Summit and related summits - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Creating a stable and sustainable future for the region

On the multilateral front, the Prime Minister's working trip took place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN, marking the beginning of the regional and international integration process, demonstrating Vietnam's strong support for Malaysia in its capacity as ASEAN Chair 2025 and its determination to work with Malaysia and ASEAN countries to build a "Sustainable and Inclusive" ASEAN Community, united, strong, and consolidating ASEAN's central role in peace and stability in the region.

The Prime Minister attended and delivered a speech at the 46th ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, dialogues with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), ASEAN Youth, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and many other related activities.

The 46th ASEAN Summit and related meetings concluded with success in both form and content, leaving behind many memorable milestones. Accordingly, ASEAN leaders signed the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on "ASEAN 2045: Our Common Future" and adopted the ASEAN Community Vision 2045; and agreed to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN next October.

The 46th ASEAN Summit and related conferences have concluded with success in both form and content, leaving behind many memorable milestones - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The important highlight of these conferences is the idea of expanding ASEAN's connectivity to adapt to geopolitical and geo-economic fluctuations; promoting connectivity beyond the region by organizing the ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit.

Regarding international and regional issues, ASEAN leaders reaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea, emphasizing the importance of respecting international law, peacefully resolving disputes, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon completing an effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In the overall success of the conferences, the Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh demonstrated a proactive and responsible spirit and made many practical contributions and breakthrough proposals.

First of all, the role of Vietnam and ASEAN in creating a new development mindset based on inclusiveness and sustainability. The Prime Minister highlighted the message of "5 more": More united to create collective strength, More self-reliant to hold our own destiny, More proactive to shape the game, More inclusive so that ASEAN is always a common home for all members and More sustainable for the future of future generations.

The Prime Minister proposed three focuses of ASEAN cooperation in the coming time: First, ASEAN should reshape its development thinking towards inclusiveness as the foundation, innovation as the driving force and sustainability as the destination; second, ASEAN should continue to promote its role as a connector and expand connections beyond the region, diversify products, markets and supply chains; third, ASEAN should maintain its central role and enhance regional self-reliance.

In the context of complex and unpredictable international and regional developments, the Prime Minister emphasized that ASEAN, consistently, needs to adhere to the path of dialogue instead of confrontation, cooperation instead of competition, solidarity instead of division, and self-reliance instead of dependence. More than ever, ASEAN needs to strengthen internal solidarity, promote its central role, and maintain balanced relations with major countries by effectively utilizing ASEAN's existing mechanisms.

Sharing concerns about the impacts of tariff policy adjustments on countries, including ASEAN, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that this is an opportunity for ASEAN to promote self-reliance, self-reliance, and restructure trade relations; ASEAN needs to prioritize strengthening internal strength and expanding cooperation space.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other leaders signed the Declaration 'ASEAN 2045: Our Common Future' - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

ASEAN needs to ensure an independent and autonomous strategic space, consolidate its central role, enhance its capacity to adapt to external fluctuations, and seek stronger and more effective solutions to emerging issues. Science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green and sustainable development need to be strongly promoted as new pillars of cooperation, mobilizing comprehensive resources from both the public and private sectors, and jointly developing regional ideas and initiatives.

In the face of increasing fragmentation and separation, the Prime Minister suggested that ASEAN and its partners promote dialogue, build trust, strengthen multilateralism, and support the principles of free, fair, inclusive, and rule-based trade. ASEAN needs to promote its strategic connectivity role based on the existing FTA network, shape the ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China inter-regional cooperation model, and continue to replicate this model with other potential partners such as the Southern Common Market and the Pacific Alliance.

Recognizing that both ASEAN and GCC regions have their own strengths, are highly complementary and share many similarities in development vision, the Prime Minister emphasized that ASEAN and GCC need to work together to shape and create a new generation of inter-regional cooperation model; at the same time, highly appreciated the three leading economic drivers of the world, ASEAN, GCC, and China, to exchange and strengthen coordination, opening up historic opportunities to create a new inter-regional strategic cooperation space.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of several ASEAN countries after signing the Declaration 'ASEAN 2045: Our Common Future' - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister made many proposals to promote the ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China relations in a substantive manner, suggesting focusing on trade and investment cooperation and supply chain linkages, effectively utilizing existing frameworks such as the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement, promptly signing the ASEAN-GCC Free Trade Agreement and considering the possibility of building an ASEAN-GCC-China Free Trade Agreement. The Prime Minister also suggested giving high priority to potential and breakthrough areas such as renewable energy, smart agriculture, sustainable infrastructure, green technology development, aviation and tourism cooperation; and proposing a strong financial connection network between major regional centers.

Vietnam's messages and contributions at the Conference have helped spread innovative thinking in ASEAN, continuing to affirm Vietnam's proactive, positive and responsible role in creating a stable and sustainable development future for the region.

Mr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary General of ASEAN, assessed that the Prime Minister's statements were always remarkable, with many good and new ideas; Vietnam's contributions were always very consistent in terms of nature and ability to contribute.

Vietnam has played a major role in supporting the ASEAN Chairmanship as well as in general supporting ASEAN’s leadership as a community and strengthening ASEAN’s external relations. More importantly, Vietnam has played a very active role in ensuring ASEAN’s centrality. At the same time, the Prime Minister’s proposals have always been very practical, which is also necessary to ensure that future proposals can be implemented after they are approved.

Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Advisor of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of Malaysia, assessed that in just 20-30 years, Vietnam has transformed strongly, from a marginal position of ASEAN to a central member, playing an increasingly important role in the region. Taking Vietnam as an example, less developed countries in ASEAN can completely rise up if supported by stronger economies in the Association.

Important Messages on Corporate Mission and AI Development

During the working trip, the Prime Minister attended the ASEAN Leaders and Partners Forum, the discussion session "Smart Grid: Connectivity through autonomous AI" within the framework of the ASEAN-GCC Economic Forum, the Vietnam - Malaysia Business Meeting, worked with many leading Malaysian corporations and enterprises; delivered a policy speech at the National University of Malaysia; met with officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Malaysia.

During the visit, agencies and major enterprises of the two countries actively negotiated, agreed and reached three important, breakthrough agreements in the fields of energy cooperation and education and training. In particular, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Singapore witnessed the signing of the Annex to the Development Cooperation Agreement on the export of offshore wind power from Vietnam to Malaysia and Singapore, opening up prospects for the construction of an ASEAN Power Grid.

The Prime Minister spent a lot of time sharing about the strategic orientations and solutions that Vietnam is resolutely implementing, especially on promoting economic growth of 8% or more in 2025 and double digits in the coming years, realizing the two 100-year goals; on building an independent, self-reliant, proactive economy, actively integrating deeply, substantially and effectively into the international community; on the revolution of streamlining the apparatus; on implementing three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure and human resources, the "four pillars" (breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation; international integration in the new situation; innovation in law-making and enforcement to meet the requirements of national development in the new era; private economic development); new policies and guidelines on modernization, breakthroughs in education and training development and strategies to protect people's health.

Sharing with the business communities of Vietnam and Malaysia as well as ASEAN businesses, the Prime Minister emphasized the important and pioneering mission of businesses in contributing to the common goal of building the ASEAN community.

Regarding what needs to be done, the Prime Minister said that businesses must strengthen their connections with each other, thereby connecting ASEAN economies and ASEAN with the world; contributing to building institutions and policies towards harmonization between countries and regions; connecting supply chains and production chains that have been broken and affected in the past; connecting and diversifying markets, products and supply chains to cope with the situation, avoiding dependence on a single market or a single locality; connecting and promoting public-private cooperation; connecting and developing green, clean and digital agriculture as the pillar of the economy.

In order for businesses to do the above, the Prime Minister stated that states and governments must promote their role in creating, designing and implementing policies to ensure stability, create an environment of peace, cooperation and development; thereby creating conditions for rapid and sustainable development.

Regarding the opportunities and challenges from AI, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that it is necessary to encourage and promote the development of AI more and more, more strongly, more positively, and more effectively. The issue is to exploit and promote the best aspects and minimize the negative aspects.

"Humans invented AI, not AI discovered humans, so we cannot let AI surpass humans or completely replace humans, causing humans to lose all their jobs or creativity," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared.

He believes that in the face of global, comprehensive, and national issues, including those from AI, international solidarity must be promoted and multilateralism must be promoted. Equal access to AI must be ensured, and the flow of AI must be open and continuous, so that countries can maintain autonomy, integrate, and ensure humanity. To do so, rich and developed countries must support and help poor and developing countries in AI development to move towards inclusive and comprehensive development, leaving no one behind.

Specifically, the Prime Minister proposed cooperation and support in building harmonious institutions; building AI infrastructure such as electricity, data and other necessary infrastructure; training high-quality, suitable human resources and operating ethically and humanely; having preferential financial resources from rich countries for poor and underdeveloped countries; having high technology transfer and smart governance.

On this occasion, at the ASEAN Leaders and Partners Forum, the Asia-Pacific Strategic Studies Institute (KSI) honored the Prime Minister as the Outstanding ASEAN Leader of 2025. The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude and said that this is an award for the people and country of Vietnam, which he represents to receive.

On behalf of the Party and State of Vietnam, General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the Prime Minister expressed their sincere thanks for the solidarity, unity, cooperation, assistance and support of ASEAN countries, leaders of countries and the ASEAN business community for Vietnam, contributing to the achievements that Vietnam has attained in recent times.

Dr. Munir Majid, Chairman of the ASEAN Business Club, said that Vietnam is a very important member of ASEAN; any initiative of Vietnam is highly appreciated; Vietnam's successful lessons need to be shared and other countries are willing to share with Vietnam for mutual success.

Spreading Vietnam's image and promoting bilateral relations with other countries

During the working trip, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Government leaders met and contacted senior leaders of many neighboring countries, strategic partners and important partners.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had meetings with the Prime Minister of China, Prime Minister of Laos, Prime Minister of Cambodia, King of Brunei, President of the Philippines, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Secretary General of the GCC... to promote the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and these countries to continue to go deeper, more substantial and effective.

Leaders of countries and partners all emphasized the message of valuing Vietnam's role and position in the international arena, highly appreciating the policy of harmonious and sustainable development and strategic breakthroughs in institutions, science and technology, infrastructure and human resources, considering these as valuable cooperation opportunities and experiences in the current challenging context.

At the talks with the Chinese Prime Minister, the two sides highly appreciated the historical significance of the recent visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping; agreed to focus efforts on effectively implementing the common perception between the top leaders of the two Parties and the two countries; strengthen high-level strategic exchanges, consolidate political trust, promote substantive cooperation to achieve concrete progress, especially in trade, high-quality investment, railway connection, determined to start construction of the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong route in 2025; continue to closely coordinate with ASEAN countries to maintain peace and stability in the region, promote the early achievement of an effective and substantive COC in accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

In the exchange with Laos and Cambodia, the three Prime Ministers agreed on many important orientations to implement the results of the meeting of the three leaders of the three parties (February 2025), bringing about a real qualitative change in cooperation between the three countries, creating a new development space, especially connecting in five major areas: transport infrastructure, energy, trade, digital transformation, and human resources.

The two Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Laos agreed to closely coordinate to effectively implement high-level agreements between the two countries; especially to strengthen the connection between the two economies in terms of transport infrastructure, energy, telecommunications and tourism, including continuing to promote the implementation of two important transport connection projects: the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway and the Vientiane - Vung Ang railway.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and ASEAN leaders also discussed in depth measures to strengthen economic, trade, investment, security-defense, culture-education, and tourism relations, while emphasizing the priority of expanding cooperation into new, potential areas such as infrastructure connectivity, green transformation, circular economy, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.

With the GCC, the two sides shared the need to expand the network of partnership frameworks and soon launch negotiations on Vietnam's Free Trade Agreement with the region, further facilitating cooperation in energy, infrastructure, digital transformation, Halal products and services.

The important results achieved from the above bilateral meetings have spread the message of a dynamic, innovative, integrated and strongly growing Vietnam, opening up favorable premises and momentum to bring the relationship between Vietnam and its partners into greater depth, substance and effectiveness in the coming time.

The visit and working session of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife along with senior Vietnamese leaders to Malaysia was closely followed and highly appreciated by international observers and media with major news stories. The media especially appreciated the dynamism, responsibility and energy of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, making a practical contribution to the success of the Conference.

It can be affirmed that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's working trip has continued to effectively implement the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress, Conclusion 59-KL/TW of the Politburo on the orientation of participating in ASEAN until 2030, Directive 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat on promoting and enhancing multilateral diplomacy until 2030; especially practically implementing Resolution 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new situation./.

According to baochinhphu.vn

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/chuyen-cong-tac-cua-thu-tuong-tai-malaysia-tam-nhin-moi-tuong-lai-moi-154094.html