PM Ismail Sabri pays a courtesy visit, optimistic in strengthening bilateral relations

Malaysia – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob made a courtesy visit on Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on March 21.

Both sides praised one other for the wonderful relationship that has developed over the years during the meeting, which lasted over 40 minutes.

Ismail Sabri also extended an invitation to President Tran Dai Quang of Vietnam to visit Malaysia in order to boost bilateral relations.

He also commended the Vietnamese authorities for the kind welcome he and the rest of the Malaysian team received.

Meanwhile, Phuc expressed his optimism that the Kuala Lumpur-Hanoi relationship will be developed as the two countries prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2023.

Following that, the prime minister and his entourage made a courtesy visit on Nguyen Phu Trong, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), at the CPV headquarters.

Ismail Sabri expressed confidence during the meeting that his first visit to Vietnam will strengthen relations between the two nations.

The prime minister finished his two-day official visit to Vietnam with a courtesy call on Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue at the Parliament Building.

According to Ismail Sabri, the Vietnamese authorities treated them quite warmly and cordially during their stay in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Hue said that the Vietnamese government was optimistic that the visit will further deepen bilateral relations.

Ismail Sabri talked entirely in Bahasa Malaysia throughout the sessions, which was subsequently translated into English.

Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, Top Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, and other senior government officials were also present.

The prime minister was greeted by his Vietnamese colleague Pham Minh Chinh and given a red-carpet greeting when he arrived at the Presidential Palace.

The prime minister is visiting Vietnam for the first time at Chinh’s request.