Hishammuddin said Malaysia wants to further deepen the StrategicPartnership with Vietnam in all areas. He took the occasion to congratulate onVietnam’s successful containment of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as its success in thepositions of ASEAN Chair 2020 and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
He spoke highly of Vietnam’s hosting of ASEAN meetings amid the complicated developments of the regional and global situation, saying Vietnam has helped maintainASEAN’s unity and centrality and step up cooperation between the bloc and its partners.
Hishammuddin suggested the two countries prepare all conditionsfor resuming direct flights between Malaysia and Vietnam at the earliest.
He expressed his sympathy over losses caused by floods in Vietnam’scentral provinces, noting Malaysia stands ready to provide assistance toVietnam within its capacity.
Minh, for his part, thankedMalaysia for its support and coordination in arranging repatriation flightsbringing Vietnamese citizens home during the COVID-19pandemic.
Vietnam is committed to facilitating entry of investors, experts, managers and skilled workers from foreign countries, includingMalaysia, helping enterprises to stabilise business and production, he said.
Minh also asked the Malaysian side to offer humane treatmentto Vietnamese fishermen caught in Malaysia’s waters, in line with internationallaw and based on the spirit of ASEAN solidarity. Such incidents should besettled in a constructive and cooperative approach that does not affect thegood relations between the two nations, he said.
The two officials agreed to soon finalise an ActionProgramme for the implementation of the Vietnam – Malaysia Strategic Partnershipover the next five years and that the two countries will work closely togetherto organise the ASEAN Summit and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetingsin November./.