Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits Malaysia, attends ASEAN summit: Appreciates new partnership framework, promotes delegation for a community of identity and self-reliance

General Secretary To Lam received Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the occasion of the Prime Minister's attendance at the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi , February 2025. (Source: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

Ambassador, please tell us the significance and key contents of this visit to Malaysia by the Vietnamese senior leader?

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh 's visit to Malaysia is of special significance, both promoting solidarity among ASEAN countries and demonstrating Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of valuing the friendly neighborly relationship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Malaysia.

The visit takes place in the context of the Vietnam-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership being on the path of strong, comprehensive and solid development in all areas, from politics , diplomacy, security-defense to economy, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchange.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Dinh Ngoc Linh. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia)

Senior leaders of the two countries regularly hold phone calls, maintain contact, pay bilateral visits, as well as meet and interact on the sidelines of regional and international multilateral conferences.

During this official visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will have important talks and meetings with the Malaysian Prime Minister and other senior Malaysian leaders.

The two sides will inform each other about the situation in each country, discuss in depth the strategic vision for developing bilateral relations, measures to strengthen and deepen bilateral relations, especially the direction and plan to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including further strengthening political trust, enhancing cooperation in security - defense, economy, trade, investment, labor, tourism, people-to-people exchange, etc.

At the same time, the leaders also discussed promoting the expansion of cooperation into other potential fields such as green economy, renewable energy, innovation, artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology and new science and technology...

In addition, the leaders of the two sides will also share and discuss frankly on regional and international issues of mutual concern, and agree on major directions to enhance coordination between the two countries at regional and international forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN, especially in the context of Malaysia holding the role of ASEAN Chair in 2025, contributing to strengthening intra-bloc solidarity and promoting ASEAN's central role.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had breakfast with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the occasion of the ASEAN Future Forum in February 2025 in Hanoi. (Source: VGP)

How does the Ambassador assess the atmosphere of implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in November 2024 between the two countries, especially in accelerating to achieve bilateral trade turnover of 18 billion USD and higher?

The establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework between the two countries helps create an important foundation and direction for bilateral cooperation in the new period, with the main pillars being promoting political, defense and security cooperation; enhancing economic connectivity towards sustainable development; opening up cooperation in new areas such as digital transformation, clean energy, new technology; and helping to enhance coordination of views on international and multilateral issues.

I hope that during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Malaysia, the two sides can agree on an action plan to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; promote necessary cooperation agreements to create effective cooperation mechanisms; effectively utilize existing cooperation mechanisms such as the Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation Committee and the Joint Trade Committee to further promote the relationship commensurate with the new stature; at the same time, agree on the direction to promote cooperation potential, take advantage of each other's strengths, contributing to consolidating a peaceful and favorable environment for the new development stage of the country, the era of national development.

Besides, economic, trade and investment cooperation is also one of the important pillars in the Vietnam-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

In ASEAN, Malaysia is currently Vietnam's second largest trading partner and third largest investor in Vietnam. Bilateral trade turnover in 2024 is expected to reach 14.2 billion USD, up 20% compared to 2023, increasingly close to the bilateral turnover target of 18 billion USD.

It can be said that the two countries possess strategic and complementary strengths that need to be grasped for cooperation, from which businesses of the two countries will have more favorable conditions to best access each other's markets, especially in new areas of cooperation with much room for growth such as Halal industry, green economy, renewable energy, innovation, artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology and high science and technology.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the ASEAN Summit 2025 in February 2025. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Malaysia's role as ASEAN Chair 2025 is highly anticipated by member states and the international community, especially in light of the Association's important development milestones. How has Malaysia contributed to this role and the cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia in promoting the ASEAN 2025 agenda, Ambassador?

Malaysia assumes the role of ASEAN Chair 2025 at a particularly important time with many unpredictable fluctuations in the world and regional situation, strongly impacting the development process and building of the ASEAN community.

With the theme of “Inclusive and Sustainable” for its ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, Malaysia aims to achieve a three-pronged strategy to expand trade and investment linkages, promote digital transformation and strengthen the economic foundations of member states.

In addition, continuing to maintain intra-bloc solidarity and ASEAN's central role is also considered a key factor to ensure success in the process of enhancing regional cooperation and connectivity, building the ASEAN Community and responding to challenges, consolidating peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Vietnam and Malaysia have always been active and responsible members, participating in the spirit of being ready to contribute more and be more proactive in the common work. Vietnam will continue to coordinate closely with Malaysia and ASEAN member countries in maintaining and promoting ASEAN solidarity and centrality, ensuring the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 as well as related strategies and initiatives to build a harmonious, cohesive, and identity-rich ASEAN community, capable of responding to emerging issues in the region and the world.

In recent high-level contacts between the two countries, Vietnamese leaders have repeatedly affirmed their support for Malaysia to successfully assume the role of ASEAN Chair 2025, towards a “Sustainable and Inclusive” ASEAN in line with this year’s ASEAN theme, and at the same time believed that Malaysia would lead ASEAN to achieve great achievements, becoming increasingly united and self-reliant.

Thank you very much Ambassador!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-tham-malaysia-du-cap-cao-asean-coi-trong-khuon-kho-doi-tac-moi-thuc-day-doan-vi-mot-cong-dong-ban-sac-tu-cuong-314998.html