(VOVworld) – National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said Vietnam valued its traditional friendship with south Asian countries including the Maldives.

At a reception for the Maldives’ Parliament speaker Abdullah Maseek Mohamed on Wednesday, Mr. Hung praised his visit’s contributions to increasing mutual understanding between the two legislatures and peoples. He welcomed the Maldives delegation’s idea of establishing a South Asian parliamentary union and hoped that both countries would expand cooperation in marine economics and tourism. He also called for strengthened cooperation at regional and global forums.