Parliamentary diplomacy is increasingly emerging as a key pillar of foreign relations, with Viet Nam’s National Assembly (NA) actively expanding engagement with regional and international partners through both bilateral and multilateral channels, according to Malaysia-based Southeast Asian history and defence researcher Enzo Sim Hong Jun.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on September 18 received representatives from several Malaysian associations and enterprises to promote bilateral trade and investment cooperation in general and the development of the Halal industry in particular.

The top legislator’s attendance at AIPA-46 is made at the invitation of Speaker of the Malaysian House of Representatives Dato' Johari Bin Abdul, who is also AIPA-46 President, while his official visit is made at the invitation of President of the Malaysian Senate Dato’ Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah.