Vietnam PM Chinh accorded formal welcome on first official visit to Malaysia
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim received his Vietnamese counterpart upon arrival at 2.30 pm, followed by the playing of both national anthems.
Chinh then inspected a guard of honour mounted by three officers and 103 personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment (Ceremonial), led by Major Mohamad Waqiyudin Abd Rahman.
Also in attendance were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said; Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang; Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, foreign diplomats and senior government officials.
Chinh is accompanied by his spouse, Le Thi Bich Tran, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, as well as several cabinet ministers and senior Vietnamese officials.
Chinh assumed office in April 2021. His visit comes ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit, Second ASEAN-GCC Summit and ASEAN-China-GCC Summit, all scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur on May 26 and 27.
Following the welcome ceremony, Chinh and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim held a bilateral meeting to review the progress of Malaysia-Vietnam relations, which were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November 2024.
Wisma Putra, in a statement, said discussions centred on key sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, agriculture, the halal industry, renewable energy, tourism, and digital technology.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, reaffirming ASEAN's role as a cohesive and responsive platform in navigating shared challenges amid evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic landscapes.
In 2024, Vietnam was Malaysia's 11th largest trading partner globally and fourth largest within ASEAN. Bilateral trade totalled RM83.11 billion, comprising RM53.86 billion in exports and RM29.25 billion in imports.
Malaysian companies have undertaken more than 700 projects in Vietnam, with cumulative investments exceeding USD13 billion (RM55 billion).
A joint press conference will follow the meeting, after which Anwar will host an official luncheon at Seri Perdana in honour of his Vietnamese counterpart. — BERNAMA
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