The General Secretary and his wife returned home, successfully concluding their visit to Malaysia.

The official visit of the General Secretary and his wife to Malaysia is a significant milestone in Vietnam-Malaysia relations, contributing to strengthening the foundation of political trust between the two countries at a high level.

Farewell ceremony for General Secretary To Lam and his wife at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

According to the VNA special correspondent, at noon on November 23 (local time), General Secretary To Lam and his wife, along with the high-level Vietnamese delegation, departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to return home, successfully concluding their official visit to Malaysia from November 21-23 at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife.

During the visit, General Secretary To Lam held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim; met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Tan Sri Dato' Dr Johari bin Abdul and President of the Senate Dato Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah; received Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural Development, Chairman of the United Malay National Organization (UMNO) Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi; met with representatives of the Vietnamese diaspora in ASEAN countries; met with the Vietnamese community in Malaysia and visited several economic and cultural centers in Malaysia; visited and delivered a speech at the National University of Malaya; visited the National Data Center; and visited Petronas Corporation… On this occasion, the wife of General Secretary To Lam visited the National Heart Institute of Malaysia and presented gifts to pediatric patients receiving intensive treatment at the hospital.

During the meetings, held in a sincere and trusting atmosphere, both sides expressed satisfaction with the extensive cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia, which has been built and developed over more than 50 years (1973-2024), overcoming periods of ups and downs in history and growing stronger.

Since upgrading bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2015, cooperation between the two countries has been continuously strengthened and deepened, achieving significant accomplishments both bilaterally and multilaterally. This is based on mutual understanding and trust, a shared vision for security, prosperity, and sustainable development in the region, cultural and historical similarities, and deep ties between the people of the two countries.

General Secretary To Lam and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held official talks. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

During the visit, the two sides issued a Joint Statement on upgrading the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Malaysia. Based on the achievements made and recognizing that the Vietnam-Malaysia relationship is at a mature stage with many opportunities and potentials suitable for advancing to a new level, the two leaders decided to upgrade the Vietnam-Malaysia relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking the historical significance of this visit.

Both sides affirmed their commitment to supporting each other on their respective development paths, and to further consolidate and strengthen friendly cooperation and political trust between the two countries on the basis of respect for international law, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and each other's political systems. The directions and measures for implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership are consistent with the socio-economic situation, laws, and regulations of each country and the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Both sides agreed on directions to further deepen and elevate relations in various fields, especially breakthrough measures to strengthen connectivity, overcome difficulties, and expand cooperation; opening a new chapter in bilateral cooperation for peace, stability, sustainability, inclusiveness, and common prosperity; and for a united, resilient, and prosperous ASEAN Community.

Both sides also agreed to review and negotiate new cooperation agreements at an appropriate time to create strong momentum and a solid foundation for future cooperation.

Vietnam will continue to support Malaysia's role as ASEAN Chair in 2025, while reaffirming its commitment to continue to closely coordinate with Malaysia and all ASEAN member states towards realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, through promoting inclusive growth, sustainable development, and strengthening regional cooperation. Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to further promote the equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development of the ASEAN Community by linking sub-regional development with the comprehensive development of ASEAN…

The leaders reiterated ASEAN's consistent stance on the South China Sea and reaffirmed their commitment to continue close coordination to maintain peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea; to peacefully resolve disputes, without threatening or using force, in accordance with widely recognized principles of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982)…

On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam attended the inauguration of Vietjet's new route connecting Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur, promoting economic, cultural, and tourism relations between Vietnam and Malaysia, as well as throughout Southeast Asia. The opening of this new route comes as Vietnam and Malaysia upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, opening up new opportunities for cooperation and development. Connecting the two capitals, the Hanoi-Kuala Lumpur route will strengthen the regional aviation network and create additional value for economic and cultural cooperation.

The visit is a significant milestone in Vietnam-Malaysia relations, contributing to strengthening the foundation of political trust between the two countries at a high level, and demonstrating the consistent policy of the Vietnamese Party and State to always value and wish to further strengthen relations with neighboring countries and the region, including Malaysia.

At the same time, Vietnam hopes to work with Malaysia to elevate the relationship of trust and effective cooperation between the two countries to a new, higher, and more practical level, meeting the development requirements of both countries in the new era.

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