Viet Nam is pivotal in ensuring success of ASEAN: Malaysian Prime Minister

In a press conference on the sidelines of the second ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2025, the Malaysian Prime Minister highlighted the significance of the forum.

The forum not only consolidates and strengthens the overall ASEAN priorities, but it gives further input, for example, engagement and attempts to resolve the Myanmar issue, he said, adding that the event also places greater importance on intra-ASEAN trade investments and the ASEAN Power Grid.

"Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has been extremely supportive in collaborating with us on ensuring the agenda forward. Viet Nam and Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group is an integral part of the ASEAN Power Grid. Viet Nam also plays a central role in ensuring food security. I think the forum provides an important avenue to deliberate on some of these key issues that would certainly assist me in my task as the Chair of ASEAN 2025, and in terms of these collaborative efforts to prepare the agenda for the ASEAN Summit", he shared.

According to the Malaysian leader, there will be two conferences within the ASEAN Summit this year, including one between ASEAN and the Gulf countries, (including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait) and the other with China. Prior to that, Malaysia expects to have a meeting between ASEAN and the U.S.

In October this year, the ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting will be held with the participation of counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Korea, Japan, EU, and South Africa. The African Union wants to be part of it to boost regional collaboration between Africa and Latin America so the potential is great for the bloc.

"There are many other important speeches at the forum. I just share some of our concerns and views on the future direction of ASEAN. We take into account all the discussions and deliberations and hopefully this would then assist us in formulating new ideas and focus during the ASEAN Summit and related meetings", told Ibrahim.

New stage in Viet Nam-Malaysia relations

According to the Malaysian leader, the upgrade of Viet Nam-Malaysia ties into a comprehensive strategic partnership means that both sides trust one another, and want to engage in all fields, not only in economic cooperation but also in cybersecurity, intelligence sharing, and common military operations understanding.

General Secretary To Lam's recent official visit to Malaysia was very well received and gave that sort of direction that both sides certainly would make, he said, adding that Malaysia welcomes Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Malaysia in next May.

"Our target is, of course, to increase trade and investment in ASEAN, but also between Viet Nam and Malaysia because Viet Nam has shown its resilience in enhancing its capabilities and registering an impressive 7 percent growth per year which is to me remarkable in this period of uncertainties and sluggishness in many other continents", told the leader.

Regarding his discussions with the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Ibrahim said, both nations expect to enhance substantive cooperation in specific areas, for example, boosting collaboration between Malaysian multinational oil and gas company Petronas and PetroVietnam, joining hands in realizing ASEAN Power Grid program, and fostering ties in Halal food technology, semiconductor, and training.

Expressing his impressions on Viet Nam's aspiration in the "era of national rise", the Prime Minister said, General Secretary To Lam referred to the issue of the new way and new direction of Viet Nam, which focuses on humane.

Not only in economic issues, Viet Nam still pays attention to inclusivity, justice, and marginalized people. In the world of politics and economics these days, they have relegated values to the background, which means issues of justice, equality, and caring for the poor, and marginalized people. So Viet Nam now envisages this new concept that must be relevant. It has to be inclusive, he stated./.