Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc receives Malaysian Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc had separate welcome meetings with the new Ambassadors of Malaysia and Thailand to Việt Nam in Hà Nội yesterday.
Receiving Malaysian Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid, the PM stressed that Việt Nam treasures its strategic partnership with Malaysia and wanted to make it stronger.
The Việt Nam-Malaysia action plan for 2016-18 should soon be put in place, he said, adding that agreements on the transfer and extradition of the convicted, aviation services, education and legal support should be finalised to serve co-operative activities.
He stressed the need to establish a deputy ministerial defence dialogue mechanism, a joint patrol method and a hotline to step up fishery affiliation, search and rescue operations, and efforts to combat pirates.
The fifth meeting of the Joint Committee on economic, scientific and technological co-operation should convene in the third quarter, he noted, expressing his hope that the Malaysian Government would support Vietnamese businesses’ investment in its country.
On the issue of Vietnamese workers in Malaysia, he stressed the need to co-operate in handling emerging issues to ensure workers’ rights and interests, and encourage their contributions to the host country’s socio-economic development.
He expressed hopes that the two countries’ close collaboration and mutual support at multilateral forums in the region and the world would continue.
Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid said his country was working hard to complete the two countries’ 2016-18 action plan.
He said he expected the Vietnamese Government would help Malaysian enterprises seeking to invest and do business in Việt Nam.

PM Phúc meets Thai Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

During his reception for Thai Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi, PM Phúc praised the two countries’ growing two-way trade, which hit US$11 billion and is set to reach $20 billion by 2020.

As they are both among the world’s three biggest rice exporters, both countries should work together to bring about benefits for their people, he said, suggesting increased connectivity in other realms, especially employment.
Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi conveyed greetings from the King and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha’s invitation for the Vietnamese Prime Minister to visit Thailand.

Earlier yesterday, the Thai diplomat pledged $100,000 to help Việt Nam cope with drought and saline intrusion.

Receiving the aid, President of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Nguyễn Thiện Nhân said that over 420,000 households in Việt Nam had been affected by drought and saline intrusion in the last 10 months, and the damage was estimated at VNĐ6.4 trillion (nearly $285 million). Over 1.5 million people were facing water shortages for daily usage and agricultural cultivation, he said.

Nhân added that the aid from the Thai government would be properly and effectively used. — VNS