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Jul 11, 2019 / 16:55

Hanoi has transformed tremendously: Malaysian ambassador

“In 1996, Hanoi was a different city with few vehicles. Now, people become more affluent and its infrastructure has developed so much”.

Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato 'Mohd Zamruni Khalid has great impression of Hanoi. 
“More than six years living in this city, I have seen tremendous transformations. I came to Hanoi in 1996 for my first term of service between 1996 and 2000 and came back as ambassador in 2016”, the ambassador told Hanoitimes.
 
Malaysian ambassador to Vietnam
Malaysian ambassador to Vietnam Dato 'Mohd Zamruni Khalid

“In 1996, Hanoi was really different city with few vehicles. Now, people become more affluent and its infrastructure has developed so much. Hanoi has turned into a megalopolis with huge airport and lots of cars”, he said.

The Malaysian diplomat also said he indeed values the time he has lived this city. “I have learned a lot as Malaysian Ambassador and I’m so familiar with Hanoi to the point that I’m feeling a little bit sad to leave this city”, he added.

Such feeling was also expressed by the outgoing Malaysian diplomat at the meeting between him and the Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung yesterday.

Hanoi now is the home to a great number of Malaysians, just behind Ho Chi Minh City. Many Malaysian enterprises are operating in Vietnam with the common will among them to keep broadening their work here, said the ambassador.

He also called for Hanoi support to those enterprises, especially in tourism area. “The direct flight between Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur helps enhance people – to – people exchange between both cities”, he added.  The out-going ambassdor hoped that Hanoi government would keep supporting his successor just as the support the city has lent him.

The Hanoi mayor hailed ambassador’s tenure which was the one with vast success, contributing largely to the Malaysia-Vietnam friendship. During the past time, Hanoi and Malaysian localities have carried out many high-level exchange trips, via which both sides learned from each other on building and managing the urban infrastructure network, among other issues.

Chung also highly appreciated Malaysian enterprises, including Gamuda, for contributing to giving a facelift  to Hanoi city. He said that Hanoi and Malaysian cities own vast cooperation potential, especially in tourism, trade, on the basis that the two countries are ASEAN members. The Hanoi leader also pledged to facilitate Malaysian firms in these areas.