Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah have reached an agreement to strengthen bilateral relations between their nations, aiming to deliver concrete advantages to their citizens while supporting regional and global peace, stability, and collaborative efforts.
During their meeting on October 31, alongside the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, President Cuong expressed his appreciation for the Sultan's planned 2025 visit to Vietnam and confirmed Vietnam's commitment to sustaining high-level diplomatic engagement and communication through various channels.
The national leader urged the continued implementation of cooperation frameworks and the achievement of the Action Plan for implementing the Vietnam-Brunei Comprehensive Partnership during 2023-2027. He stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration in four key sectors: petroleum and natural gas, chemical industries, Halal food production, travel and tourism, and cultural exchanges between citizens.
President Cuong reaffirmed his dedication to supporting Brunei's investment initiatives and commercial growth, calling on both nations to expedite the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding regarding Halal collaboration.
Also Read: A Study of Singapore's Leadership Strategy in Tourism in 2025
The President encouraged Brunei to assist Vietnamese companies in manufacturing and obtaining certification for agricultural and Halal products, noting that this would allow Vietnamese merchandise to enter Brunei's market and become part of the international Halal distribution network.
Also Read: 5 Interesting APAC CTO Appointments in August 2025
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah expressed his deep appreciation and aspiration for enhanced bilateral ties with Vietnam across multiple sectors, including economic cooperation, commerce, energy resources, petroleum and natural gas, cultural exchange, and interpersonal connections.
Upon acknowledging Viet Nam's successful bid for another term on the UN Human Rights Council spanning 2026–2028, the Sultan commended the nation's growing prominence in fostering international multilateral partnerships globally.
Also Read: The Leadership Behind Imoo - China's Top Kid-Friendly Smartwatch
He reaffirmed Brunei's commitment to backing Viet Nam through various skill development initiatives, particularly English language education programs.
The two leaders reached an agreement on fostering solidarity, unity, and preserving ASEAN's pivotal position within the region.
They committed to enhancing collaboration on regional and global matters of shared interest, particularly regarding the East Sea/South China Sea situation, expediting discussions for a meaningful and robust Code of Conduct in the East Sea that aligns with international law, notably the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).