Ambassador Tran Anh Vu: Sultan of Brunei's state visit strengthens Vietnam-Brunei friendship and cooperation
WVR - According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Tran Anh Vu, the state visit of Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah reaffirms the determination of both countries to continuously strengthen and deepen their friendship and cooperation across all fields after upgrading their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2019.
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| President Luong Cuong meets Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah on the sidelines of the 32nd APEC Meeting October 31. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
On the eve of the State visit to Vietnam by Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (November 30 - December 2), Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Tran Anh Vu shared with The World & Vietnam Report about the special significance of the visit and the prospects for future bilateral cooperation.
How do you assess the significance of the State visit to Vietnam by Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah?
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| Ambassador Tran Anh Vu speaking at the 80th National Day of Vietnam celebration in Brunei. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei) |
At the invitation of President Luong Cuong, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah will pay a State visit to Vietnam from November 30 to December 2. This visit by the Sultan reaffirms the determination of both countries to continuously strengthen and deepen their friendship and cooperation across all fields after upgrading their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2019.
During the visit, both sides will discuss and evaluate the implementation of cooperation areas within the framework of the Action Program to implement the Comprehensive Partnership for the 2023-2027 period, which was approved during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Brunei (February 2023). Notably, the visit is an opportunity for both sides to discuss measures to strengthen and deepen cooperation in important and prioritized areas such as politics-diplomacy, defense-security, energy, the Halal industry, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as in areas of mutual interest and need for cooperation enhancement.
For Brunei, the visit demonstrates the valued and enduring friendship Brunei holds for Vietnam, as a trusted partner in ASEAN. For Vietnam, welcoming the Sultan of Brunei to Vietnam contributes to implementing the foreign policy of the Party and State, which values relations with ASEAN countries, strengthens and enhances multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Brunei, and contributes to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.
What are the notable highlights of Vietnam-Brunei relations over the past three decades, Ambassador?
Reflecting on the journey since upgrading to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2019, both sides have made efforts to promote and deepen cooperation across all fields.
Political-diplomatic cooperation has been strengthened and enhanced through delegation exchanges and high-level and various-level diplomatic contacts. During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Brunei, both sides approved the Action Program to implement the Vietnam-Brunei Comprehensive Partnership for the 2023-2027 period, identifying priority cooperation areas and key solutions and tasks. The Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), co-chaired by the two Foreign Ministers, plays an important role in reviewing and urging the implementation of cooperation areas towards increasing substance and effectiveness.
Economic cooperation has made significant progress. Bilateral trade turnover for the 2023-2025 period has exceeded the target of 500 million USD by 2025, with bilateral trade reaching over 670 million USD in 2024, laying the foundation for both sides to set higher trade targets for the upcoming period. Vietnam's exports to Brunei have grown positively in recent years, specifically increasing by over 30% in the first 10 months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2025. Cooperation in priority areas such as energy, the Halal industry, tourism... has been promoted. Some Vietnamese enterprises in Brunei are expanding their business activities, especially in the fields of cuisine and handicrafts. Both sides are actively discussing and establishing cooperation frameworks in areas of mutual interest, especially the Halal industry and fisheries.
Defense-security cooperation between the two countries has achieved positive results through the implementation of Memorandums of Understanding on Defense Cooperation and cooperation in specific fields. In 2025, the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces visited Vietnam, and both sides continue to actively exchange, enhance delegation exchanges, and establish cooperation frameworks and dialogues on defense-security.
Education cooperation and people-to-people exchanges play an important role in strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Brunei. The Vietnamese community in Brunei serves as an important bridge, promoting economic-social, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Vietnamese is currently the only language in Southeast Asia taught at the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD), attracting increasing interest from Bruneian students.
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| Vietnam-Brunei Friendship Concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei in collaboration with the University of Brunei Darussalam, on April 16, in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei) |
Which areas of cooperation should Vietnam and Brunei focus on to leverage each other's strengths and contribute practically to the benefits of the people of both countries in the new phase?
Vietnam and Brunei have potential, opportunities, and room to enhance and deepen economic cooperation based on high economic complementarity, and both sides value cooperation with partner countries in ASEAN, as well as focus on diversifying partners, markets, and promoting the utilization of new growth drivers.
Vietnam and Brunei have potential cooperation in renewable energy transition, green economy, circular economy, in line with commitments to emission reduction and sustainable development. Both countries are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and have the potential to promote cooperation and share experiences on sustainable energy transition policies, including carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology – an area where Brunei has significant potential.
The digital economy, science-technology, and innovation are promising areas of cooperation. Partners in Brunei are interested in and highly appreciate Vietnam's determination and strong steps to leverage new growth drivers from the digital economy, science, technology, and innovation in the new phase. Brunei is advancing the "Brunei Vision 2035" to build a smart nation through digital applications. This is an opportunity for Vietnamese digital technology enterprises to participate in Brunei's digital transformation process, from building telecommunications infrastructure, e-government to digital payments and other potential technology fields.
Additionally, both sides have potential cooperation in many new sectors and fields associated with innovation and technology trends, such as connecting startup ecosystems, high-tech agricultural cooperation, eco-tourism, and high-quality human resource education and training.
Looking ahead, what is the vision for Vietnam-Brunei relations in the coming period, Ambassador?
Cooperation between Vietnam and Brunei will continue to be promoted based on the established bilateral cooperation frameworks and the demand and potential to enhance cooperation in prioritized and mutually interested fields, especially with the support and close guidance of high-level leaders and the participation of agencies, organizations, people, and businesses of both countries.
Within the framework of ASEAN, the United Nations, and multilateral forums, Vietnam and Brunei will continue to closely coordinate to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development at the regional and global levels. The roles both sides assume, including Vietnam hosting APEC 2027 and being elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term, and Brunei's role in coordinating ASEAN-EU cooperation... are opportunities to enhance increasingly substantive exchanges and coordination at multilateral cooperation mechanisms and forums in the coming period.
Thank you very much, Ambassador!
| "For Brunei, the visit demonstrates the valued and enduring friendship Brunei holds for Vietnam, as a trusted partner in ASEAN. For Vietnam, welcoming the Sultan of Brunei to Vietnam contributes to implementing the foreign policy of the Party and State, which values relations with ASEAN countries, strengthens and enhances multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Brunei, and contributes to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region." (Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Tran Anh Vu) |
