President Vo Van Thuong (R) receives Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. (Photo: VNA)

Mr. Thuong called for coordination to bolster investment and raise bilateral trade to 18 billion USD, and asked the Malaysian Government to help Vietnamese enterprises produce and export Halal products to Malaysia.

He expressed his hope that Malaysia will expand its training support for Vietnam and boost locality-to-locality ties, including establishing a twin-city relationship between Hoi An of Vietnam, and Melaka of Malaysia.

President Thuong also asked Malaysia to help Vietnam persuade the EU to remove its “yellow card” against Vietnam’s fisheries sector, and assist in the repatriation of Vietnamese fishermen.

PM Ibrahim said Malaysia values its multifaceted relations with Vietnam, and wants to increase economic, trade, investment, and manpower training cooperation.

The two leaders agreed on the importance of guaranteeing peace and stability in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) by implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and working towards a code of conduct (COC) that is substantive, effective, and in conformity with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).