Vietnam, Brunei to expand all-round cooperation

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Indonesia.

The agreement was reached during a meeting in Jakarta on April 24 between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

The two leaders highly appreciated the positive developments in the Vietnam-Brunei relations in recent years, noting that the lifting of the bilateral relationship to the comprehensive partnership in 2019 during the Sultan’s Vietnam visit is an important milestone, creating a driving force for stronger and more efficient cooperation between the two countries.

In particular, they said bilateral trade value continued to grow in 2020 despite the negative impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They agreed to increase high-level exchanges and contacts when conditions permit, soon organize the second session of the joint committee on bilateral cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in 2021, and develop an action plan to implement the comprehensive partnership in the next five years.

Both leaders consented to encourage their businesses to expand partnerships in the areas of their strength, including energy, agriculture, education, aquaculture and seafood processing.

The Brunei side pledged to assist Vietnamese businesses in completing production lines for farm produce to be exported to Brunei, meeting Halal standards.

Both sides exchange views on measures to expand all-round cooperation between the two countries.

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah spoke highly of Vietnam’s successes in the COVID-19 fight and economic recovery, as well as in chairing ASEAN in 2020, making a significant contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated Brunei on its effective control of the COVID-19, thus facilitating economic recovery and development in the post-COVID period.

Vietnam attaches great importance to developing relations with Brunei, affirmed Chinh, adding that Vietnam also supports Brunei’s role as ASEAN President in 2021.

The PM thanked Brunei for supporting Vietnam in fulfilling its role as ASEAN President in 2020 and as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021

He also proposed that Brunei support Vietnam’s bid to host the ASEAN Regional Center on Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.

The Sultan invited the Vietnamese PM to visit Brunei, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

The PM conveyed the senior Vietnamese leaders’ invitation to the Sultan to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.

PM Chinh is in Jakarta, Indonesia, for an ASEAN summit.

Brunei is currently the President of ASEAN 2021.