HCMC – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh yesterday, March 21, held talks with Malaysian PM Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob in Hanoi.
The Malaysian PM led a high-ranking delegation to pay an official visit to Vietnam from March 20 to 21 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart. This is the first official visit to Vietnam by PM Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob since he took office in August last year.
The Malaysian PM’s visit took place when the Vietnam-Malaysia cooperation and strategic partnership is growing strongly. The two countries are going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties (1973-2023).
Malaysia ranked second in ASEAN and ninth in the world among Vietnam’s trade partners in 2021. Meanwhile, Vietnam was Malaysia’s third-largest trade partner among ASEAN nations. The bilateral trade of the two countries in 2021 reached US$12.5 billion, improving 25.3% year-on-year.
Vietnam mainly exports telephones and components, crude oil, rice, coffee, and seafood to Malaysia while importing mostly computers, electronic products, machinery, equipment, fuels, household appliances, and chemicals. During the first two months of this year, their trade value reached nearly US$2.2 billion, up 20% year-on-year.
Neermal Shunmugam, Chargé d’ affaires of the Malaysian Embassy in Vietnam, said the visit by PM Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob aims to further advance bilateral cooperation after the pandemic. Also, it will create a chance for the two sides to explore new aspects of bilateral ties, discuss regional and international issues of common concern, and promote bilateral trade and investment.
