The Central Commission for External Relations has announced that General Secretary To Lam and his spouse will conduct an official visit to Malaysia from November 21 to 23 at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his spouse.  

Vietnam and Malaysia have seen robust development in their bilateral relations in recent years. The two countries are actively implementing the 2021–2025 Action Program to concretize their Strategic Partnership.  

High-level exchanges between the two nations occur frequently. Notable recent visits include Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his spouse’s trip to Vietnam in July 2023 and Malaysian Speaker of the House of Representatives Tan Sri Dato' Johari Bin Abdul’s visit in October 2023.  

Leaders of both nations also engage regularly at multilateral forums.  

Malaysia is Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner within ASEAN and ranks ninth globally. It is among the top 10 foreign investors in Vietnam.  

In the first eight months of 2023, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Malaysia continued to grow positively, reaching nearly $10 billion, an increase of 15.2% compared to the same period last year. The two sides are working to achieve $18 billion in bilateral trade by 2025, focusing on balance and minimizing trade barriers.  

Defense cooperation has been a focus, producing tangible results through exchanges at various levels, joint training, and the sharing of expertise among military branches.  

Security collaboration has also strengthened, with both sides intensifying information exchanges to combat terrorism, cybercrime, and transnational crime.  

Approximately 12,000 Vietnamese workers are employed legally in Malaysia, accounting for about 1% of the foreign workforce there. Additionally, over 1,000 Vietnamese students are pursuing education in Malaysia.  

In March 2022, Malaysia authorized the establishment of the Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association, which aims to promote information exchange and people-to-people interaction. The association supports sector-specific connections, particularly in healthcare, education, and academia, further advancing the strategic partnership.  

The two nations collaborate and support each other in candidacies for international organizations. They have agreed to work closely with ASEAN members to ensure unity and solidarity within the bloc.  

Vietnam has expressed its support for Malaysia’s successful chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025.  

Tran Thuong