Malaysian Ambassador Shariffah Norhana Syed Mustaffa has congratulated Viet Nam on its assumption of the roles of ASEAN Chair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2020-2021 term, affirming that Malaysia strongly supports Viet Nam to successfully fulfill these two important responsibilities.

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (right) receives
Malaysian Ambassador Shariffah Norhana Syed Mustaffa, Ha Noi,
January 7, 2020. Photo: VGP

The newly appointed diplomat made the remark at a reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Ha Noi on January 7.

She pledged her utmost efforts to continue building on the development momentum of relations between the two countries, particularly the implementation of the outcomes of the visit to Viet Nam made by Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad in August 2019.

For his part, Deputy PM Minh spoke highly of the ambassador’s role in coordinating to prepare for the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's official visit to Viet Nam last year, thus contributing to consolidating the Viet Nam-Malaysia friendship and cooperation, for the benefits of the two countries’ peoples and for peace, cooperation and prosperous development in the region and the world.

He asked Syed Mustaffa to further strengthen the exchange of delegations, especially high-ranking delegations, as Viet Nam serves as the ASEAN Chair 2020 and Malaysia is the host country of the APEC Year 2020.

The diplomat was also urged to help maintain and promote the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, while accelerating the signing of an action program on the implementation of the Viet Nam-Malaysia strategic partnership in the period of 2020-2025.

Deputy PM Minh called for the two sides’ greater efforts to realize the goal of increasing two-way trade to US$15 billion, hoping that Malaysia would continue creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese people to work and study in the country.

The official asked Malaysia to humanely treat Vietnamese fishermen, affirming the Vietnamese Government’s determination to definitively deal with the illegal finishing in foreign waters.