Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man held talks with visiting Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malaysia Tan Sri Dato' Johari Bin Abdul in Hanoi on Octo♍ber 23, following a welcome ceremony for the 🍃latter.

Man welcomed the Malaysian Speaker’s official visit from October 22-25, noting that it takes place at a time when the two countries are approaching the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership in 2025. He affirmed that the visit contributes to consolidating the friendly and cooperative relations between the two nations across various areas as well as enhancing the practical and effective cooperation between the Vietnamese and Malaysian legislatures. Man expressed his delight at the positive and practical development of the bilateral ties over the past half-century via the Party, State, and people-to-people exchange channels and in all fields. Congratulating Malaysia on its remarkable economic achievements, which have helped the country to become one of the top 27 competitive economies in the world, Man expressed his confidence that the Malaysian House of Representatives will play a pivotal role in driving national economic development, improving living standards of local people and enhancing Malaysia's global and regional positions. Johari affirmed that Vietnam and Malaysia are important parts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the two nations are working together to drive economic growth and share sci-tech and energy achievements. Man asserted that Vietnam treasures and wishes to further promote its Strategic Partnership with Malaysia, aiming for more substantive and effective relations, adding that the Vietnamese NA is ready to offer all possible support for cooperation between the two countries. Recognising the ample potential for trade and tourism development, the NA Chairman proposed intensifying collaboration in investment, technology, tourism, trade and energy, thereby expanding trade opportunities and fully tapping each side's comparative advantages. To further reinforce the bilateral Strategic Partnership, Man suggested Malaysia continue facilitating the exchange of all-level delegations, and effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms and agreements, toward lifting two-way trade to 18 billion USD in a balanced manner. According to the NA Chairman, both sides should support training on the Halal production process and certification for Vietnamese localities and businesses, further facilitate the import of Halal products from Vietnam and strive to soon sign a cooperation agreement in the Halal sector. Additionally, Vietnam and Malaysia should explore the possibility of launching more direct flights connecting famous destinations between the two countries to boost trade and tourism, step up collaboration on training workforce in areas where both sides have strengths and needs, such as sci-tech, information technology, economy and education management. Speaking highly of Malaysia's stance on addressing the East Sea issue, Man said both sides need to collaborate with other ASEAN countries to uphold ASEAN's viewpoint on the East Sea matter, promote the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and negotiate an effective and practical Code of Conduct on the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Regarding the relationship between the Vietnamese and Malaysian parliaments, Man said that he is pleased to see that the relationship has been consolidated and enhanced both bilaterally and within the framework of international and regional inter-parliamentary forums of which both sides are members, most recently at the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45). He suggested that in the coming time, the two sides should study and promote the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese NA and the Malaysian House of Representatives and Senate, which will create a foundation to promote and deepen cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries. Welcoming Malaysia's establishment of the "Malaysia - Vietnam Friendship Association" in 2022, Man said he hoped that the Malaysian House of Representatives will continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, work and study in Malaysia. Man also expected that the Malaysian House of Representatives will continue to create a favourable legal corridor for the two governments to effectively implement signed cooperation agreements, especially the action programme to carry out the Vietnam - Malaysia strategic partnership for the 2021-2025 period. The Vietnamese top legislator proposed increasing high-level and all-level meetings between parliamentarians of the two countries and the two friendship parliamentary groups to exchange experiences in the field of legislation, supervision and decision-making on important issues of each country. He hoped that the Malaysian parliament, in its role as AIPA Chair 2025, will keep promoting strong cooperation within AIPA, contributing to deepening relations between ASEAN parliaments and creating a space for effective and substantive dialogue on important regional issues. Man also proposed strengthening cooperation between the Vietnamese NA’s Office and the Secretariat of the Malaysian House of Representatives, especially in the fields of staff training and exchanging experiences in research and consultancy. For his part, Johari acknowledged Man’s proposals, affirming that he will make efforts to coordinate with Vietnamese agencies to promote the early resolution of issues in the spirit of the strategic partnership between the two countries. On this occasion, he respectfully invited the Vietnamese top legislator and senior leaders of Vietnam to visit and attend ASEAN and AIPA Summits in 2025 when Malaysia assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship and AIPA Chairmanship. Earlier, on October 23 morning, the Speaker, his spouse, and the Malaysian delegation paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi and visited the special national relic of Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature). On the evening of the same day, Man hosted an official banquet for the Malaysian guests./.