Vietnamese PM’s visit to Malaysia opens new chapter in bilateral ties: Malaysian expert
According to the researcher, this trip was expected to open a new chapter in the diplomatic ties between the two countries, particularly as they upgraded their relationship to the highest level of comprehensive strategic partnership in November last year during the visit of Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam to Malaysia.
PM Pham Minh Chinh (L) and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. (Photo: VNA
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Enzo Sim Hong Jun, a researcher at the Penang Institute in Malaysia, has highly evaluated Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s recent official visit to the country, saying that it helped usher in a new chapter in the bilateral relations while further elevating Vietnam’s prestige and position in the international arena.
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident correspondents in Kuala Lumpur, Enzo highlighted that Vietnam is entering a new phase of development, gradually transitioning towards becoming a high-tech manufacturing hub. This is a crucial element that will support its journey towards a digital economy, green economy, and sustainable development goals. These are also areas where Malaysia has extensive experience and can share valuable insights wit🐭h Vietnam, he noted.
Enzo Sim Hong Jun, a researcher at the Penang Institute in Malaysia. (Photo: VNA)
According to the researcher, this trip was expected to open a new chapter in the diplomatic ties between the two countries, particularly as they upgraded their relationship to the highest level of comprehensive strategic partnership in November last year during the visit of Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam to Malaysia. PM Chinh’s visit also further consolidated the robust cooperation between the two nations across a range of fields, from trade, economy, and investment to security and defence.
Beyond that, the trip was hoped to help Vietnam further elevate its standing and strengthen its relationships with other ASEAN member states, including Malaysia.
Enzo said Vietnam’s participation played a significant role, contributing to the success of the 46th A♎SEAN Summit hosted by Malaysia, especially as the event coincided with the second ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the first-ever ASEAN-GCC-China Summit. These summits enabled ꦫVietnam to not only engage with regional leaders but also deepen its economic ties with Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and others./.
The flagship National Training Week (NTW) aims to reach at least 5 million participants from across ASEAN, with an estimated value of over 600 million USD.
The visit, which reflects Vietnam’s commitment to deepening ties with neighbouring countries, strategic and key partners as laid out in the foreign policy adopted at the 13th National Party Congress, marked a big step forward for the Vietnam - Malaysia relationship, which has been upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Son said.
PM Pham Minh Chinh noted that there remains great potential for bilateral collaboration in human resources development, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.
Right on the same day, the ministry issued its highest-level travel warning, urging Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran, and advised those already in these countries to swiftly consider evacuation or relocation plans.
From the struggles against colonialists and imperialists to the period of Doi moi (renewal) and international integration, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always played a pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, he said.
The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.
Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.
The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the shared responsibility of relevant parties to build trust, enhance cooperation, and jointly manage the risks of conflict, thus safeguarding long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.
The National Assembly on June 18 passed the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, with 408 out of 420 participating deputies voting in favour, accounting for 85.36% of the total.
The Party leader asked the new HCM City to embrace a multi-centre and integrated urban ecosystem where each development pole functions as a link complementary to and intelligently connected with each other in a harmonious whole.
The resolutions issued by the PM as well as ministries and ministry-level agencies reassign responsibility for 346 administrative procedures - 18 from district to provincial levels, 278 to commune level, and 50 eliminated.
Legislators are due to pass several amended laws, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, and the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Vietnamese localities' readiness to implement the two-tier local administration model, the evacuation of 18 Vietnamese citizens from Iran, Petrovietnam's 11th ranking in the 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 are among news highlights on June 17 evening.
The General Secretary underlined the resolve to achieve a growth rate of at least 8% in 2025, laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in the following period. He noted that these are mandatory targets, with no alternative path to success.
Restructuring and improving the quality of officials, civil servants, and public employees is no longer a choice, but an urgent requirement to transition from administrative management to governance in service of the people.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has advised Vietnamese people living there to proactively prepare and seek ways to leave the country via land border crossings, especially toward Jordan or Egypt, when security and safety conditions allow.
Vietnam and New Zealand are working toward a breakthrough to achieve a bilateral trade target of 3 billion USD by 2026. Education and training will remain a key pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with diverse joint programmé and attractive scholarships to build a high-quality workforce for the future.
