The visit conveys a message of Vietnam's desire to work with Malaysia to elevate the trusted relationship and effective cooperation between the two countries to a new and more practical level, meeting both nations’ demands for development.
After nearly 40 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process under the comprehensive leadership of the Party, Vietnam has achieved significant progress, with growing national strength, potential, and international standing. The implementation of the Resolution from the 13th National Party Congress, along with socio-economic development plans and foreign affairs efforts, has brought about many important achievements.
The entire Party, people, and army are determined to successfully achieve the tasks and goals set by the 13th National Party Congress while preparing thoroughly for the 14th Congress, paving the way for a new era of the nation's rise. Vietnam is prioritising the realisation of two centennial development goals by 2030 and 2045.
Vietnam continues to pursue comprehensive and synchronised reforms, including the improvement of the political system, Party-building efforts, economic transformation, and the promotion of new productive forces such as digital transformation, green transition, energy transition, and environmental protection.
In recent years, Malaysia has maintained basic stability. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government has focused on strengthening unity, ensuring social justice, and fostering economic development. The prime minister introduced an initiative titled “the MADANI Economy: Empowering the People”, which is also a new economic strategy. The initiative provides a long-term vision for Malaysia's position in the global economy. Malaysia has adhered to an independent foreign policy that avoids alliances and alignments, focusing on three main pillars: valuing relations with ASEAN nations, balancing relations with major powers, and fostering close cooperation with Islamic countries and members of the Commonwealth. Malaysia is a respected member of various international and regional organisations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations. In 2025, Malaysia will assume the ASEAN chairmanship.
Vietnam and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in 1973. The bilateral relationship has flourished across all fields, especially after the strategic partnership was established in 2015. Malaysia is a key strategic partner in Southeast Asia and holds a priority in Vietnam's foreign policy. Vietnam’s Communist Party has maintained positive relations with major political parties in Malaysia, including the People's Justice Party (PKR) led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
In recent years, high-level and various-level delegation exchanges between the two sides have been conducted regularly. Economic and trade relations between Vietnam and Malaysia have shown significant growth. Malaysia is currently Vietnam's second-largest trade and investment partner in ASEAN, while Vietnam is Malaysia's third-largest trade partner in the region. Their bilateral trade reached 12.7 billion USD in 2023.
Cooperation has also yielded positive results in other areas such as defence and security, labour, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. Additionally, the two nations have collaborated closely in multilateral organisations and forums, including ASEAN, sharing strategic perspectives and interests on most regional and international issues.
Against the backdrop of the two nations celebrating 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and approaching the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership, the official visit to Malaysia by Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse marks another significant milestone in the two countries’ bilateral ties. It underscores the importance Vietnam places on fostering relationships with regional countries, including Malaysia, as a consistent policy of the Party and State.
Based on the positive momentum of the Vietnam-Malaysia Strategic Partnership, the visit by Party Chief To Lam and his spouse aims to further strengthen cooperation between the two nations, contributing to the achievement of each country's development goals. The visit reaffirms Vietnam's active and responsible role in working alongside Malaysia and other ASEAN members to build a united and resilient ASEAN Community, towards maintaining the bloc's centrality and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and world.
