during which both agreed to regularly and effectively maintain the nations’ mechanism of joint committee on bilateral cooperation.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA)

At their phone call, the Brunei minister congratulated Son on his appointment as Foreign Minister, praised Vietnam’s attainments in pandemic prevention and socio-economic development as well as outstanding achievements in external relations, including its 2020 ASEAN chairmanship and the position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020 – 2021.

Minister Son, meanwhile, spoke highly of the two nations lifting of their ties to comprehensive partnership on the occasion of the Sultan of Brunei’s visit to Vietnam in 2019 and expressed his delight at the sound development of the two countries' cooperation, particularly in trade last year despite COVID-19.

Both ministers agreed to soon build an action plan to implement the comprehensive partnership for the next five years and regularly and effectively maintain the nations’ mechanism of joint committee on bilateral cooperation while studying to establish a political consultation mechanism and signing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two foreign ministries as soon as possible.

They also concurred on boosting the two nations’ cooperation in trade and investment.

Son took the occasion to thank Brunei and other ASEAN member states for supporting Vietnam in holding its role as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020 – 2021.

Vietnam actively backs Brunei’s ASEAN chairmanship this year, he affirmed.

Son invited Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof to visit Vietnam at a convenient time, and the Brunei minister accepted the invitation with pleasure./.VNA