Malaysia, China sign deals on economic, trade cooperation
Malaysia and China signed a slew of deals on Wednesday, renewing a five-year economic co-operation pact and allowing export of fresh durians, during a visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties, according to Reuters.

China's Premier Li Qiang (L) shakes hands with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at their meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on June 19, 2024. Photo courtesy of Reuters.
Li Qiang met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the administrative capital of Putrajaya, following his arrival in Kuala Lumpur the same day.
After the meeting, they witnessed the signing of more than a dozen pacts on co-operation in areas ranging from the digital economy to green development, housing, tourism, and communications, among others.
The new five-year pact that runs to 2028 provides for strategic collaboration in areas such as trade and investment, agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, and financial services.
China also agreed to allow the import of fresh durian from Malaysia after it meets sanitary requirements.
Malaysia, one of the world's biggest producers of the fruit, was previously allowed to ship only the whole frozen fruit and its products to China, with export valued at 1.19 billion MYR ($253 million) in 2023.
China has been Malaysia’s largest trade partner since 2009, and the total trade was valued at $98.9 billion in 2023.
On the same day, Li Qiang is also expected to meet Malaysia's King, Sultan Ibrahim, and attend a ground-breaking ceremony at a construction site for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
The 665-km, 50-billion-MYR (11-billion USD) railway will link peninsular Malaysia's east and west coasts by the end of 2026.
- Read More
Southern Vietnam port partners with Chinese firms to expand logistics network
The Long An International Port in the southern province of Tay Ninh on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement with SPG Bohaiwan Port and Bohwa Shipping Pte Ltd of China to expand its logistics network.
Companies - Thu, July 31, 2025 | 2:51 pm GMT+7
Consortium proposes $850 mln energy storage battery plant in southern Vietnam
A consortium of five international and Vietnamese companies has proposed investing in an energy storage battery plant in the Ho Chi Minh City-based Saigon High-Tech Park (SHTP), with total investment capital of $850 million.
Industries - Thu, July 31, 2025 | 2:35 pm GMT+7
World-class talent ‘absolutely central’ to success of Vietnam's international financial center ambition: Tony Blair Institute
Damian Hickey, regional director, South East Asia, Tony Blair Institute talks with The Investor on international investors’ interest in Vietnam’s dual-campus international financial center (IFC) model and suggests ways to attract world-class talent for the country’s IFC ambition.
Finance - Thu, July 31, 2025 | 10:53 am GMT+7
Vietnam retail major FPT Retail’s accumulated profit jumps by over $36 mln in H1
Vietnamese retail major FPT Retail’s undistributed post-tax profit rose nearly 2.7 times to VND1.5 trillion ($57.16 million) at the end of June, up VND955 billion ($36.39 million) from the beginning of this year.
Companies - Thu, July 31, 2025 | 10:00 am GMT+7
Super typhoon verifies claim management excellence of Vietnam’s leading insurer
PVI Insurance Corporation winning the “Outstanding Claims Management” category at the Country Awards for Excellence 2025 hosted by Insurance Asia News (Hong Kong) affirms its strong service quality, not only within Vietnam but also in the broader regional insurance community.
Companies - Thu, July 31, 2025 | 9:03 am GMT+7
New sellers on Amazon must seriously invest in branding: Lixibox exec
New sellers on Amazon should be prepared to invest in their business and view early mistakes as inevitable learning experiences, not reasons to quit, said Sao Lonsdale, CEO of Lixibox, a Vietnamese beauty brand.
Companies - Thu, July 31, 2025 | 9:00 am GMT+7
MBBank records 18% profit growth in H1, among top earners in Vietnam's banking system
Hanoi-based MBBank (MB) posted a pre-tax profit of VND15.89 trillion ($606.43 million) in H1/2025, up 18% from a year earlier and meeting half of its full-year target.
Banking - Thu, July 31, 2025 | 8:06 am GMT+7
Vietnam's leading developer Novaland divests from series of major projects
Novaland, a major real estate developer in Vietnam, said it had completed the transfer of a 49% stake in its subsidiary Gia Duc Real Estate Co. Ltd., in a deal worth nearly VND1.73 trillion ($65.98 million) in June.
Real Estate - Thu, July 31, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Two Vingroup subsidiaries to sign $180 mln contractor for commercial complex in Hanoi
Vietnam Exhibition Fair Center JSC (VEFAC), a unit of conglomerate Vingroup (HoSE: VIC), has secured board approval to sign a contractor agreement with fellow subsidiary Vincons Construction Investment and Development JSC to develop a cultural, service and commercial complex in Hanoi’s Giang Vo ward.
Real Estate - Wed, July 30, 2025 | 4:29 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's state utility EVN posts $314 mln in post-tax profit after long period of losses
State-owned giant Vietnam Electricity (EVN) made a remarkable turnaround in 2024, recording a post-tax profit of more than VND8.24 trillion ($314.2 million), ending a prolonged period of losses.
Companies - Wed, July 30, 2025 | 2:03 pm GMT+7
Masan’s beverage chain Phuc Long books nearly 64% profit growth on strong food sales
Phuc Long Heritage JSC, a beverage subsidiary of retail giant Masan Group (HoSE: MSN), posted a net profit of VND86 billion ($3.28 million) in the first half of this year, up 63.5% year-on-year, according to its parent firm’s financial statement.
Companies - Wed, July 30, 2025 | 1:51 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's pharma major Bidiphar achieves 60% of year's profit target after 6 months
Binh Dinh Pharmaceutical Medical Equipment JSC (Bidiphar) reported revenue of VND916 billion ($34.98 million) and pre-tax profit of VND202 billion ($7.71 million) in H1/2025, fulfilling 46% and 60% of the year's respective targets.
Companies - Wed, July 30, 2025 | 11:36 am GMT+7
Vietnam earns $3.7 bln from steel exports in H1, down 22.5%
Vietnam raked in $3.7 billion from exporting 5.66 million tons of steel in the first half of 2025, down 13% in volume and 22.5% in value year-on-year.
Economy - Wed, July 30, 2025 | 10:30 am GMT+7
Challenges mount for Vietnam’s Century Synthetic Fiber Corporation
Ho Chi Minh City-based Century Synthetic Fiber Corporation is facing a myriad of difficulties as it has failed to raise capital, while hundreds of billions of VND (VND100 billion = $3.82 million) in project-related debt near maturity.
Companies - Wed, July 30, 2025 | 9:11 am GMT+7
Vietnam’s Long Thanh may enter global mega airports club next decade: report
Long Thanh International Airport, under construction in Vietnam’s southern province of Dong Nai, is expected to join global mega airports capable of handling at least 100 million passenger arrivals annually by the next decade, a report said.
Infrastructure - Wed, July 30, 2025 | 9:00 am GMT+7
Vietnam's agri major BAF enjoys skyrocketing 444% profit growth in Q2
BAF Vietnam Agriculture JSC, which owns the "Vegetarian Pig" brand, posted impressive business results in Q2/2025 amid a volatile pork market, with after-tax profit soaring 444% year-on-year.
Companies - Wed, July 30, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7