HCMC – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, and their spouses visited a book street and enjoyed Vietnamese coffee in Hanoi, yesterday, July 21.
The event was part of activities held during Malaysian PM Anwar’s two-day visit to Vietnam at the invitation of PM Chinh.
It was Anwar’s first trip to Vietnam in his capacity as Prime Minister of Malaysia. The visit took place in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Malaysia diplomatic relations.
At the book street, PM Chinh and PM Anwar met local readers, exchanged books, and discussed Vietnam’s reading culture. The two leaders and their spouses also sipped Vietnamese Arabica and Robusta coffee grown in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.
The 200-meter book street is located near the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi. It connects the bustling Ly Thuong Kiet and Hai Ba Trung streets.
This activity has exemplified the closeness and openness between the heads of government of Vietnam and Malaysia, even with a tight schedule of the visit, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
Previously, the two leaders highlighted prospects of Vietnam-Malaysia relations and discussed solutions to develop bilateral ties during a meeting on July 20.
Since the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2015, the two countries have seen encouraging results across various aspects of cooperation, such as diplomacy, trade, and investment.
Vietnam and Malaysia have planned to bring two-way trade to US$18 billion by 2025. Both countries aim to intensify efforts in promoting trade and business expansion.
PM Chinh said Vietnam is Malaysia’s reliable and long-term rice supplier. He suggested Malaysian authorities extend their support to Vietnam in the development of the Halal industry.
This sector includes a wide range of products and services that cater to the demands of Muslim consumers worldwide, including food, fashion, and medications, among others.
As part of his visit, PM Anwar also paid courtesy calls to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.
Malaysia is Vietnam’s second largest ASEAN trade partner and ninth largest in the globe. The nation is also one of top ten leading investors in Vietnam.
