Vietnam-Malaysia relations to be promoted under cabinet of new Malaysian PM: expert

Kuala Lumpur, December 7 (VNA) - Vietnam and Malaysia will make new strides in their relations under the cabinet of new Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, said Collins Chong Yew Keat, lecturer of the University of Malaysia. According to Collins Chong, under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia will continue to pursue a greater economic partnership with its Southeast Asian neighbour as it is one of the top investors in Vietnam, and will encourage Vietnam to pour more investment into the energy and food sectors in Malaysia. The expert said Vietnam is considered the next solid economic power in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is playing an increasingly important role in the global economic chain. PM Ibrahim and Malaysian policy-making agencies are aware of this and will come up with an appropriate strategy to promote bilateral cooperation prospects in the future, he said, adding that Vietnam will be the largest economic partner of Malaysia in ASEAN. Malaysia needs to explore and promote cooperation in strategic and important industries, tap Vietnam's strengths in core economic sectors such as electronics, food processing, machinery and manufacturing, he noted. With its strength in rice production, Vietnam can assist Malaysia in ensuring food security, especially in the context of the turbulent situation in the world, the expert went on. Meanwhile, Zokhri Idris, CEO of Malaysia's Policy and Economic Affairs Centre of Malaysia (PEACE), recommended that the two countries should organise activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1973-2023), including people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Sharing Idris’s opinion, Collins Chong said that it is necessary to enhance people-to-people exchanges, and social, educational and cultural exchange activities between the two countries, adding that student exchanges and joint research projects on important industries or business and tourism fields will contribute to promoting the economic recovery of both nations. After the 15th general election in Malaysia, Chairman of the Alliance of Hope Anwar Ibrahim was appointed the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia by King Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah and officially took office on November 24. PM Ibrahim was voted by Times magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 1998./.