HCM City (VNA) – HoChi Minh City wants to further boost cooperation in multiple spheres withMalaysia, especially in the prioritised fields of trade, investment, technology,education, culture and tourism, said a local official.

Speaking at a ceremonymarking 45 years of Vietnam-Malaysia diplomatic relations on August 7, ViceChairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem noted that Vietnamand Malaysia share many cultural similarities and their people began toexchange and learn from each other a long time ago.

The relationship has beenfurther reinforced since the two countries set up diplomatic ties on March 30,1973 and, especially, after they lifted the relations to the level of strategicpartnership in 2015, Liem said.

With 562 projects worth over 12 billion USD,Malaysia currently ranks seventh among countries and territories directlyinvesting in Vietnam, he adding that bilateral trade reached 6.67 billion USDin the first half of 2018, up 19.2 percent year on year, and is expected to hit15 billion USD by 2020.

Liem went on to say that Malaysia has invested4.6 billion USD in nearly 250 projects in HCM City, ranking third among 98foreign investors here.

Aside from political andeconomic partnerships, bilateral collaboration in security-defence, culture,education and labour have also resulted in positive outcomes, therebycontributing to the bilateral comprehensive cooperation as well as peace, stability,cooperation and development in the region, the official added.

For his part, Malaysian Consul General in HCMCity Sofian Akmal Abd. Karim affirmed that the sound relationship betweenMalaysia and Vietnam is the outcome of unceasing efforts by leaders and peopleof both nations, especially since the establishment of the strategicpartnership in 2015.

According to the diplomat, over the fourdecades, bilateral trade and investment ties have grown considerably, driven bythe favourable economic environment. Meanwhile, encouraging outcomes have alsobeen seen in people-to-people diplomacy when about 248,000 Vietnamese visitedMalaysia and 480,000 Malaysians came to Vietnam in 2017. Educationalcooperation programmes and youth exchanges have also taken place regularly,helping to foster mutual understanding, solidarity and friendship.

He said although HCM City has attractedone-third of Malaysian investments in Vietnam, the two sides’ cooperationpotential remains huge, particularly in education and tourism.

The official asked HCM City’s leaders tocontinue to support activities that are aimed at promoting bilateral ties so asto help intensify strategic partnership between Malaysia and Vietnam.

The ceremony featured singing and dancingperformances by Vietnamese artists. The Malaysian Consulate General andpartners also introduced a Batik flower-themed fashion collection symbolisingthe friendship between the two nations.–VNA