Mahathir in Vietnam for bilateral talks

Mahathir in Vietnam for bilateral talks

VIETNAM: Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad held
talks with Vietnam's top leaders in Hanoi on Monday as part of
efforts to improve relations between the two ASEAN members, the
foreign ministry said.

Mahathir, whose official visit to the communist nation began
on Sunday, met President Tran Duc Luong and Prime Minister Phan
Van Khai.

The controversial statesman, who retired last October after 22
years in power, is also due to hold talks with former premier Vo
Van Kiet before departing on Wednesday.

Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesman Le Dung said the purpose
of his visit was to "to exchange experiences on national
construction and development".

This, he said would contribute "to the promotion of friendly
and co-operative relations between the two countries, especially
in economics, trade and investment."

Khai met Mahathir's successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in
Malaysia in April this year. -- AFP