Singapore (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had separate meetingswith Sultan of Brunei Hagi Hassanal Bolkiah and Malaysian Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamad in Singapore on November 15.

The meetingstook place during PM Phuc’s trip to attend the 33rd ASEAN Summit andrelated summits.

Meeting with the Brunei Sultan, the Vietnamese Government leader proposed thetwo countries maintain and increase the exchange of high-ranking delegations aswell as promote the efficiency of the Inter-Government Committee mechanism.

He said he wishes that Brunei will continue facilitating Vietnamese goods’access to the local market and boost labour cooperation, especially at Vietnam’sinvestment projects in Brunei, as well as collaboration in defence, marineissues, crime prevention, search and rescue and judicial assistance.

The two nations should work together to ensure peace, security and stability inthe East Sea, and respect the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS), he said.

PM Phuc also expressed his thanks to the Sultan and Government of Brunei fortheir humane treatment towards Vietnamese fishermen.

Sultan Hagi Hassanal Bolkiah spoke highly of the positive progress of the Vietnam-Bruneirelationship and Vietnam’s cooperation in agriculture, fishery and ensuringfood security and defence, as well as bilateral coordination at international forums.

He affirmed to direct Brunei’s authorities to consider Vietnam’s proposals andcontinue equal treatment towards Vietnamese fishermen in line with local law.

Meanwhile, at the meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, PM Phuc suggested thetwo countries work to raise their two-way trade to 15 billion USD by 2020 andMalaysia support Vietnamese businesses in supplying Halal food and increase energyand marine collaboration. He also thanked Malaysia for its humane treatmenttowards Vietnamese fishermen.

The Vietnamese Government leader proposed the two sides continue coordinatingin standpoint, consolidating the solidarity and role of ASEAN in the East Seaissue in accordance with principles and practices agreed by the grouping, boostingthe implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC) and building an effective and legally binding Code of Conduct in the EastSea (COC).

For his part, the Malaysian PM agreed to increase the exchange of high-rankingdelegations in the time ahead. He expressed his impression on the land andpeople of Vietnam, hoping that the two sides will cooperate in fostering theproduction of key commodities. He noted that his country is ready to share experienceand processes in producing Halal food.-VNA