Anwar’s Vietnam visit will deepen political trust, says envoy

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit to Vietnam on Thursday and Friday (July 20 and 21) will contribute to increased political trust between the nations, says Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Dinh Ngoc Linh.

The visit would help foster the growth of bilateral ties on all fronts and provide a new framework for their further development, Linh told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

It will also create impetus for the implementation of the Action Programme on the Vietnam-Malaysia Strategic Partnership for 2021-2025.

The improvement of bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, including politics, security and defence, economy, culture, tourism, employment, and people-to-people interactions, depends on this programme.

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Additionally, Linh believes that Anwar’s visit would provide entrepreneurs from both countries the chance to seek out investment and cooperation while stepping up bilateral cooperation in response to current global concerns including energy security, food security, climate change and digital transformation.

The leaders of the two countries will exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, including marine cooperation promotion and sea-based economic development, and coordination at regional and international forums, especially within the Asean framework.

This will strengthen intra-regional solidarity and promote Asean’s centrality, Linh added.

According to Linh, Vietnam and Malaysia are natural allies, linked by similarity in geo-strategic position as well as parallel interests in the region and the world.

Despite complex changes in the region and the rest of the world, the ambassador believes that the bilateral relationship will continue developing closely and effectively in all spheres, particularly politics and economics.

The envoy emphasised that there is still a great deal of room for expanding economic cooperation and expressed his conviction that the goal of increasing bilateral trade to US$18bil (RM81.76bil) by 2025 can be achieved.

Two-way trade increased by 17.4% year-on-year to US$14.68bil (RM66.68bil) last year. – Bernama/VNA