Malaysia-Viet Nam promote tourism ties

As in previous years, the embassy will hold a Malaysian Week in conjunction with National Day, aside from the official reception. A Malaysian cultural troupe and two chefs are being flown into Ha Noi to promote our food and culture to the local and international community. In addition, the embassy is working closely with the Malaysia Business Chamber, which will host the annual Merdeka (Independence) Gala Dinner for the Malaysian community in HCM City.

As a multiracial nation, National Day is a timely occasion for all Malaysians to remember the struggles of our past leaders to obtain independence on August 31, 1957. This year's theme of 1Malaysia: Transforming the Nation reaffirms the 1Malaysia concept promoted by the Hon Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, to enhance national unity and underlines the need for Malaysians from all walks of life and across communities to remain as one in national efforts to address challenges so as to transform Malaysia into a higher-income, developed country in line with its Vision for 2020.

In fact, my Prime Minister has also declared September 16 as a national holiday for the first time this year to underline the historical significance of the formation of Malaysia. This is especially meaningful for Sabah and Sarawak, and Sabah will host the inaugural Malaysia Day Celebrations in Kota Kinabalu on September 16.

As ASEAN neighbours, Malaysia and Viet Nam have premised relations on longstanding friendship, people-to-people exchanges and substantive co-operation in many areas. A key highlight in bilateral relations recently was the first-ever visit of my Prime Minister to Viet Nam in April 2010 to attend the 16th ASEAN Summit in Ha Noi. At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Viet Nam, both leaders had a productive and friendly bilateral meeting, followed by their attendance to witness the project-signing ceremony of a Malaysian joint venture. Their joint presence underlined the strong economic partnership between our two countries. The opening of a Malaysian bank i.e. the Hong Leong Bank, which is already locally incorporated in Viet Nam, in HCM City last year and soon in Ha Noi further added to Viet Nam's economic importance to Malaysia.

At the same time, defence ties reached a new level with the first official visit by a Malaysian Defence Minister to Viet Nam. His visit was also in conjunction with his attendance at the 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting in Ha Noi in May. Several other Malaysian ministers, including the Foreign Minister, Minister of Information, Culture and Communications, Minister of International Trade and Industry and Second Finance Minister, were also in Viet Nam to attend various ASEAN meetings hosted by Viet Nam. Malaysia has in turn welcomed delegations from Viet Nam, including those of the Minister of Public Security and the Minister of Information and Communications.

In less than three weeks, a major delegation of Malaysian lawmakers will also visit Ha Noi to attend the 31st ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

We are appreciative that Malaysia has received several prominent awards and acknowledgements in terms of tourism. We have always focused on the interest of the tourist first by adhering to best practices in the industry and ensuring quality in terms of service and products for the enjoyment of tourists, both local and international.

As ASEAN countries, Malaysia and Viet Nam certainly have had many opportunities to co-operate in the tourism industry. Through regional events such as the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum and local events such as the Workshop on Co-operation in Tourism Development in ASEAN held in Da Nang in March, both countries have exchanged ideas and learned from each other. In this respect, we could further explore possibilities and collaborate in developing new tourism packages, products and services to be promoted to other countries, including in Europe and the Americas. For example, bilateral promotions could be jointly organized under the ASEAN umbrella, including campaigns to promote 1 Destination (ASEAN) 2 Countries (Malaysia&Viet Nam). We should also encourage and facilitate travel entities in Malaysia and Viet Nam to network and co-operate with each other using existing platforms like seminars, product updates, public relations, and fairs and exhibitions.

The visa-on-arrival facility was revoked effective August 16 by the Ministry of Home Affairs for an indefinite period. Malaysia has prided itself as a favourite tourist destination, as evidenced by its over 20 million foreign visitors a year. As a friendly country, we continue to welcome all visitors to Malaysia, but we must also balance it against the abuses of the visa-on-arrival facility. In addition, this measure will help us attract more bona-fide visitors, as they usually make advance plans to travel. Therefore, we do not think it will impact greatly on Malaysia's tourist numbers since the majority of tourists to Malaysia are from countries that already enjoy visa-free arrangements, including almost all ASEAN countries.

Malaysia is happy to have had the opportunity to support and assist Viet Nam in its admission as the seventh ASEAN member in 1995. Even before Viet Nam's membership in ASEAN, Malaysia had already extended technical assistance to the country through its Malaysia Technical and Co-operation Programme (MTCP). Malaysia continues to co-operate with Viet Nam in the area of training and capacity-building through the MTCP.

Viet Nam has since proven itself to be an active and responsible member of ASEAN, as evidenced by its capable ASEAN chairmanship this year. I am confident that Malaysia and Viet Nam will continue to strengthen ASEAN through effective regional co-operation as outlined in various ASEAN economic and development initiatives aimed at narrowing the development gap and enhancing regional integration. Moreover, in line with the ASEAN Charter, both countries along with other ASEAN countries are busily engaged in implementing action plans to build the three pillars of the ASEAN Community by 2015. Such co-operation and contributions will further add to ASEAN solidarity and its reputation as an effective and successful regional organization.

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