At the get-together to mark the Malaysia’s Independence Day. Photo: HUFO

Addressing the ceremony, Chairman of the HCM City’s Vietnam-Malaysia Friendship Association Tran Ngoc Son stressed the bilateral relations have been consolidated and developed in various sectors like trade and investment, education, security, defence and people-to-people exchange.

Both nations have enhanced the exchange of high-level delegations to improve political trust, while effectively coordinating at regional and international forums, he said.

Son added that on the basis of the fruitful ties in economy, security-defence, labour and tourism, HCM City authorities and the Malaysian General Consulate in the southern hub have joined hands to organise a wide range of people-to-people exchange activities so as to further develop the friendship and comprehensive collaboration.

Also he expressed his belief that bilateral ties will further flourish in the time to come.

Delegates pose for a group photo with artists. Photo: HUFO

Acting Consul General Raja Hanizam Putra, for his part, took the occasion to highlight the great achievements that Malaysia has made over the past years.

He hailed the progress in Vietnam-Malaysia ties, especially after the two countries elevated their relations to a strategic partnership in 2015, noting that Vietnam and Malaysia share similarities in their histories, as they were all colonies and had to struggle for independence.

Two-way trade between the two nations hit 11.5 billion USD last year, up over 13 percent annually. Malaysia is the eighth largest investor in Vietnam with around 600 projects worth over 12 billion USD, he said, adding two-way trade has tripled in the past 10 years and they are working to raise bilateral trade value to 15 billion USD in 2020 under their signed plan of actions, while preparing a plan of actions for the next period.

Registering some 13 billion USD in 600 projects, Malaysia is among large foreign investors in Vietnam. The number of Vietnamese tourists to Malaysia has increased through years, showing potential and strong development in the bilateral ties./.