Visitors at an art exhibition to mark Malaysia's 58th National Day. (Photo: VNA)The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city’s Vietnam-Malaysia Friendship Association (HVMFA) celebrated Malaysia’s 58th National Day (August 31) on August 28.
Speaking at the celebration, HVMFA President Nguyen Thi Lien said the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia has been bolstered and developed in multiple areas since the two countries officially established diplomatic ties over four decades ago.
The two sides have accelerated delegation exchanges at all levels while working closely and supporting each other at both regional and international forums, she noted.
She affirmed that Malaysia is among Vietnam’s ten largest trade partners and ranks eighth out of 101 investing countries and territories while Vietnam is operating eleven investment projects worth more than 800 million USD in Malaysia.
Bilateral cooperation in tourism, security-defence and labour has seen great progress in recent years, benefiting both sides, she added.
According to Lien, Ho Chi Minh City and Malaysia have maintained strong cooperation in politics and external affairs activities as well as people-to-people exchange.
For his part, Malaysian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Sofian Akmal Bin Abd. Karim spoke highly of the 40-year development of the countries’ relations, highlighting that Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, is a favourite holiday destination of Malaysian nationals.
As the chair of ASEAN for 2015 and working towards its theme of chairmanship – “Our People, Our Community, Our Vision”, Malaysia looks to coordinate with Vietnam and other ASEAN member states to bring people closer to each other and create a people-centred ASEAN community, he stressed.-VNA
