Leaders of Vietnam, Timor-Leste Arrive in Malaysia Ahead of 46th ASEAN Summit
PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), May 25 (Bernama) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao arrived in Malaysia on Sunday ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, set to take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on May 26 and 27.
Pham Minh Chinh, who is making his first official visit to Malaysia since assuming office in April 2021, was accorded a formal welcome by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Perdana Putra Complex at 2.30 pm.
The ceremony included the playing of both national anthems and an inspection of the guard-of-honour mounted by personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment (Ceremonial), led by Major Mohamad Waqiyudin Abd Rahman.
Chinh was accompanied by his spouse, Le Thi Bich Tran, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, as well as other Vietnamese cabinet ministers and senior officials.
Following the welcome, both leaders held a bilateral meeting to review Malaysia-Vietnam relations, which were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November 2024.
Discussions focused on trade and investment, defence and security, agriculture, halal industry development, renewable energy, tourism, and digital technology.
They also exchanged views on regional and global developments, reaffirming ASEAN’s central role in navigating complex geopolitical and geoeconomic landscapes.
Vietnam was Malaysia’s 11th largest trading partner globally and fourth within ASEAN in 2024, with total bilateral trade reaching RM83.11 billion.
A joint press conference and official luncheon hosted by Anwar at Seri Perdana concluded the programme.
Meanwhile, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Gusmao and his delegation arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 3.45 pm.
They were received by Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad at the Bunga Raya Complex before Gusmao inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by the First Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment (Ceremonial).
Gusmao’s attendance at the 46th ASEAN Summit underscores Timor-Leste’s continued progress towards full ASEAN membership.
The summit, held under Malaysia's ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability", will also feature two high-level inter-regional meetings -- the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit.
-- BERNAMA
