On the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Brunei from February 10-11, the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Southeast Asia had an interview with Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Tran Van Khoa regarding the purpose and meaning. of the visit, the direction of cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.
Here is the content of the interview:
– Thank you Ambassador for accepting the interview with VNA. First of all, please let the Ambassador know the purpose and significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Brunei from February 10-11.
Ambassador Tran Van Khoa: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Brunei is very important.
Firstly, this is the first official visit to Brunei by the Prime Minister in his new position, since the 13th National Congress, as well as since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is also the first official visit of the head of the Government of Vietnam to Brunei following nearly 16 years, helping to create a strong impulse to further deepen the Comprehensive Partnership with Brunei – a rich potential economic partner. capacity and is the place to mark the event that Vietnam became the 7th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 1995.
[Việt Nam-Brunei thúc đẩy quan hệ Đối tác toàn diện, hợp tác sâu rộng]
Secondly, the visit has special significance in the context that the two countries’ relations are on a good track of development, the two countries have just celebrated the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations (1992-2022).
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will have a meeting with King Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, in order to set orientations to promote bilateral cooperation in all fields in the coming time, contributing to the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership cooperation framework.
Thirdly, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Brunei is a positive implementation of Vietnam’s foreign policy and shows the importance of Vietnam’s relations with Brunei in particular and ASEAN countries in general. strengthen connectivity, the central role of ASEAN.
– How does the Ambassador evaluate the current cooperation relationship in various fields between Vietnam and Brunei? Could you tell me more regarding the overseas community living and working in Brunei, what are the advantages and disadvantages?
Ambassador Tran Van Khoa: Over the past 30 years, bilateral relations between Vietnam and Brunei have made important developments in all aspects, from politics, economy, trade, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
Vietnam-Brunei relations was officially established in 1992, upgraded to relations Comprehensive partner in 2019.
The two countries have grown closer, deepened political trust and cooperation, and maintained mutual support at multilateral forums.
Even in the context of the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides still maintain online exchanges between levels. In 2022, the two countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son paid an official visit to Brunei and co-chaired the second meeting of the Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in September 2022.
In terms of economy and trade, the two-way trade turnover last year made positive progress following the pandemic, exceeding the target of 500 million USD before the 2025 deadline.
Regarding security and defense cooperation in 2019, the two sides kicked off exchanges and negotiations on cooperation agreements in the field of security and transnational crime prevention.
Besides, educational cooperation between the two countries has many bright spots.
Brunei National University (UBD) established UBD’s Global Center for Foreign Language Teaching at FPT University Da Nang and regularly sends students to Vietnam to exchange and study; In Brunei, UBD has opened Vietnamese language courses since 2019 directly taught by Vietnamese teachers, contributing to the promotion of Vietnamese culture in Brunei.
Cultural exchanges and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries took place in a rich and vibrant manner with the activities of the Exhibition on Vietnamese culture, art and cuisine.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Tran Van Khoa speaks at Community New Year – Homeland Spring 2023. (Photo: Manh Tuan/VNA)The Vietnamese community in Brunei is currently only regarding 300 people. Previously, at LILAMA’s project, there were more than 1,800 workers, following the project was completed, the workers were returned home, the rest were mainly small unskilled workers in local companies. The community unites, focuses on doing business, towards the homeland.
Every year, the Embassy organizes community meetings on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.
– Please let the Ambassador know the direction of the two countries to promote bilateral relations and support each other at multilateral organizations and forums of which both sides are members such as ASEAN, the Asia-Thailand Economic Cooperation Forum. Binh Duong (APEC)…
Ambassador Tran Van Khoa: Over the past time, the friendly bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Brunei has grown stronger and deeper.
The two countries also always coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums and international and regional organizations, such as the cooperation framework. ASEAN– The European Union (EU), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), APEC, the United Nations,… while enhancing connectivity and the central role of ASEAN.
In the coming time, the two sides need to implement the results achieved during the Prime Minister’s visit, continue to promote the comprehensive partnership to develop strongly, especially focusing on exploiting all potentials of economic cooperation. economy between the two countries, and at the same time contribute to the consolidation of ASEAN’s solidarity; for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.
Thank you Ambassador.
Do Sinh (VNA/Vietnam+)
