HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has said the establishment of the Việt Nam-Brunei comprehensive partnership will open up new a chapter for bilateral relations.

At a meeting with visiting Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Hà Nội on Wednesday, Phúc suggested the two countries increase delegation exchanges at all levels as well as meetings and consultations at multilateral forums in order to ensure the freshly established bilateral comprehensive partnership continues to develop and meets its potential.

He said they should optimise co-operation mechanisms to tighten political ties, promptly remove difficulties, and promote collaboration.

The leader expressed his delight at the active development of Việt Nam-Brunei relations across various fields, and noted that the Asia-Pacific and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regions in particular are witnessing intensive changes in all spheres, requiring each country to make suitable adjustments in development models and economic management.

PM Phúc also called on the two sides to implement co-operation agreements in defence and security, step up joint training in search and rescue, increase visits of naval ships and closely co-ordinate at international defence and security forums. 

It was necessary to beef up teamwork in preventing and fighting non-traditional security risks such as terrorists, cross-border crimes, drug smuggling, human trafficking and high-tech crimes, he said. 

The two sides need to deepen economic ties with new, balanced and mutually beneficial approaches, while supporting each other to utilise opportunities generated by the regional economic integration and the Fourth Industrial Revolution with the goal of increasing bilateral trade to US$500 million, he said.

The PM also proposed the two countries intensify trade promotion activities such as exhibitions, fairs and business forums, as well as help their enterprises exchange information. 

Due to their strategic geographical locations, the PM Việt Nam and Brunei should pay more attention to sea co-operation and turn it into a pillar in their partnership.

He hailed the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Brunei Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism for establishing a hotline for fishery support, and requested the two ministries improve the hotline and enhance information exchange in fishing activities and search and rescue work.

Praising the two countries’ shared vision on regional and global issues of mutual concern, PM Phúc said Việt Nam prioritised the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, particularly as Việt Nam and Brunei are due to take on the rotary ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah expressed his joy as the nations lifted bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership.

As Brunei is making efforts to diversify its economy through the development of various industries and its small- and medium-sized enterprise community, the country wants to boost both bilateral and multilateral co-operation with Việt Nam, he stressed. 

Việt Nam and Brunei have been engaged in many free trade deals, he said, saying businesses from the two countries should support each other to expand their markets.

He added that economic connection will facilitate people-to-people exchanges while helping companies and investors meet and set up partnerships.

The Sultan congratulated Việt Nam’s ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), adding that his country will soon follow suit and co-ordinate with Việt Nam to finalise negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year. — VNS