The even was attended by many Malaysianofficials, including Minister of Communications and Multimedia Gobind SinghDeo, Deputy President of the Malaysian Senate Haji Abdul Halim Bin Abd. Samadand Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong, along with Vietnamese expatriatesand foreign diplomats.
In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador Le QuyQuynh highlighted major achievements the country has obtained recently,elaborating that Vietnam is an open and dynamic economy as well as atrustworthy friend and partner of other countries.
It has maintained a fast and stable growth rateover the past 15 years, averaging 6.4 percent annually. The World Bankpredicted this figure to hit 6.8 percent this year. Meanwhile, Vietnam hasfriendly relations with more than 180 countries and territories and is aresponsible member of more than 70 regional and international organisations, henoted.
Regarding Vietnam-Malaysia ties, Quynh saidbilateral relations have recorded extensive developments, particularly sincethey were elevated to a strategic partnership in 2015.
Cooperation expansion has been seen in variousspheres like politics – diplomacy, security – defence, economy, culture andeducation. Bilateral trade surpassed 10 billion USD in 2017 and reached 5.8billion USD in the first half of 2018, up 21 percent year on year. The twosides are striving to raise the trade revenue to 15 billion USD by 2020.
In politics, many high-ranking mutual visitshave been made. Notably, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will visit Vietnamon the occasion of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi this September.
Ambassador Quynh voiced his belief that underthe leadership of Malaysia’s new government, the friendship and cooperationbetween the two countries will keep thriving so as to benefit both countriesand their people.
Minister of Communications and Multimedia GobindSingh Deo offered congratulations on Vietnam’s National Day, expressing hisbelief that bilateral relations will continue to develop.
As part of the ceremony, the Ministry of Culture,Sports and Tourism and the Embassy of Vietnam organised a Vietnamese CultureDay with a variety of activities, including a photo exhibition on the countryand performances by Vietnamese artists.-VNA