Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The officialvisit to Vietnam by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on August 27-28is expected to generate practical outcomes, solidify trust between thecountries’ leaders and strengthen the two peoples’ friendship.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynhvoiced the expectations in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency ahead ofthe trip.

Comprehensiverelations

Ambassador Quynh said since diplomatic ties wereset up in 1973, Vietnam-Malaysia relations have recorded great strides, frompolitics, defence, security, economy to culture, tourism and people-to-peopleexchange. With bilateral ties lifted to a strategic partnership in 2015, theircooperation has been developing in all aspects.

In terms of politics-diplomacy, trust has beenenhanced, especially via frequent visits and meetings. Last year, the two sidescoordinated to organise many events marking the 45th founding anniversary oftheir diplomatic relationship (March 30).

Trade links between the two dynamic SoutheastAsian economies have been growing fast, reaching 11.5 billion USD in 2018 (13.2billion USD in Malaysian statistics), turning Malaysia into the sixth biggesttrade partner of Vietnam, making the target of 15 billion USD or more by 2020feasible, the diplomat noted.

Malaysia ranks eighth among foreign investors inVietnam with nearly 600 projects worth some 13 billion USD.

Meanwhile, defence-security cooperation is animportant pillar of the countries’ partnership, Quynh said, adding thatdelegation exchanges, training and experience sharing between their militaryservices have taken place regularly. They have also shared information onterrorism, cybercrime and transnational crimes.

The ambassador described education-training,cultural exchange and people-to-people exchange as highlights of bilateralconnections. With an advanced educational environment, Malaysia is a favouritedestination in Southeast Asia for Vietnamese students, who have numbered morethan 1,000 there. Many staff members in Vietnam’s state agencies have receivedtraining in different fields under the Malaysian Technical CooperationProgramme.

The more than 60,000 Vietnamese people inMalaysia have also received favourable conditions provided by the Malaysian Government,he said.

Quynh also pointed out the two sides’ effectivecooperation at international and regional forums like the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC),the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the United Nations.

Malaysia supported Vietnam in its successful runfor a non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and theAPEC Chairmanship in 2017.

Regarding the East Sea, they have workedtogether and joined other ASEAN members to maintain the bloc’s solidarity andcommon voice; ensure peace, security and stability in the East Sea; and promotethe implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the EastSea, along with the building of an effective Code of Conduct in the waters.

Those achievements are the results of the mutualtrust and understanding, the promotion of common interests, cooperationeffectiveness enhancement and efforts towards the future by both countries’leaders and peoples, according to Quynh.

Promisingvisit

The diplomat said in previous terms, PM Mohamadvisited Vietnam four times, and the coming trip is his first official tour ofthe country since he was re-elected to the post.

The visit is made amidst a thriving bilateralpartnership. However, there remains much room for the countries to expand theircooperation, he noted.

Quynh said Vietnam always treasures and wishesto bolster ties with Malaysia. Their relations have a solid foundation based oncultural and historical similarities, complementary economic structures and,especially, the friendship and efforts towards the future by the twogovernments and two peoples.

The visit by PM Mohamad will be a chance for thetwo sides to look back on what they have attained over the last 46 years,discuss measures to realise high-level agreements and create a favourableframework for their relations to grow, not only in bilateral aspects but alsoat regional and international forums of which both are members.

Ambassador Quynh believed that with existingadvantages and thorough preparations, the trip will be successful, creatingmomentum for bilateral ties. Additionally, the Vietnam-Malaysia partnershipwill continue to be reinforced for the sake of the two peoples and for peaceand prosperity in the region and the world.-VNA