Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính is welcomed by Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah (left). — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính held talks with Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah right after meeting with members of the House of Bolkiah in Bandar Seri Begawan capital on February 11 morning.

Sultan Bolkiah affirmed that Brunei always treasures and wishes to keep developing its partnership with Việt Nam, especially in economy, trade, investment, education and agriculture.

PM Chính, for his part, conveyed the Vietnamese leaders’ regards to the Brunei Sultan and royal family. He underlined Việt Nam’s consistent policy of valuing the development of comprehensive partnership with Brunei.

He expressed his belief that Brunei will soon realise the Brunei Vision 2035 (Wawasan Brunei 2035), becoming an economy with dynamic and sustainable development.

Both leaders spoke highly of the effective development of bilateral comprehensive partnership in various areas, from politics, national defence-security to economy, trade, investment, maritime cooperation, energy and education-training. In particular, two-way trade soared by 134 per cent annually to US$725.8 million last year.

In the near future, both sides will continue facilitating all-level visits, effectively implement the ministerial-level Bilateral Cooperation Committee and important cooperation agreements, especially the action plan on the implementation of Việt Nam-Brunei comprehensive partnership for the 2023-27 period, which was signed on the occasion.

They pledged to boost trade growth in a more diverse and balanced direction, consider the possibility of establishing a joint venture on the exploitation, cultivation and processing of aquatic products, as well as seek opportunities in new cooperation areas such as digital economy, circular economy and climate change response.

PM Chính suggested Brunei create favourable conditions for Vietnamese goods to enter the country, particularly rice and farm produce meeting Halal standards. He also committed all possible support for Brunei enterprises to do business in Việt Nam.

He also proposed increased coordination to connect the two economies together to build them into independent and self-reliant economies that widely and effectively integrate into the world.

Host and guest vowed to enhance collaboration in other important realms such as national defence-security and maritime activities, including maintaining the effectiveness of the hotline to support fisheries activities and share information on law enforcement at sea. They will also boost ties in education-training, tourism and connectivity as well as increase the frequency of direct commercial flights.

On regional and global issues, they promised to continue with close coordination at regional and global forums, maintain solidarity and uphold the central role of ASEAN.

They reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, safety, security and freedom of navigation in the East Sea; jointly maintain ASEAN's solidarity and common stance on the East Sea issue, and strive for progress in negotiating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

On the occasion, PM Chính invited the Brunei Sultan and Queen to visit Việt Nam at an appropriate time. The host accepted his invitation with pleasure and wished to visit Việt Nam soon.

Concluding the talks, the leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of the action plan on the implementation of Việt Nam-Brunei comprehensive partnership for the 2023-27 period and a diplomatic note on visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holders between Việt Nam and Brunei. — VNS