Bringing Vietnam-Singapore Ties Closer, Substantive and Effective

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at their talks. Photo: VNA

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, held talks with his host counterpart Lee Hsien Loong following an official welcome ceremony chaired by the latter on February 9, according to VNA.

Speaking at the talks, PM Lee affirmed that the visit will create a strong impetus for the fine strategic partnership between the two countries and is an important opening event for the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the partnership this year.

He stressed Singapore always treasures and hopes to further strengthen its strategic partnership with Vietnam.

The two PMs spoke highly of the positive developments of the bilateral relations in both bilateral and multilateral aspects.

The two leaders agreed to intensify political trust; maintain exchanges and contacts at all levels and through all channels; promote economic cooperation; effectively implement cooperation agreements, including the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of the Vietnam – Singapore partnership on digital economy and green economy signed on this occasion; and create favourable conditions for the implementation of cooperation in new and potential fields such as digital, green and circular economies, innovation, clean energy, and climate change response.

They also reached consensus on stepping up cooperation in defence-security, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

PM Chinh proposed Singapore consider the possibility of signing a labour cooperation agreement between the two countries; increase the import of agricultural and aquatic products, and garment and textiles from Vietnam; and facilitate the selling of Vietnamese goods in the distribution system in Singapore.

With a stable political system and an increasingly improved investment environment, Vietnam welcomes and creates favourable conditions for Singaporean businesses to expand their investment in the country, especially in digital transformation, green energy, science and technology, and innovation, Chinh added.

The Singaporean leader thanked Vietnam for approving the investment of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) Nghe An II, and showed support for his Vietnamese counterpart’s proposal on opening more parks.

He also emphasized his backing for collaboration in clean energy, and electricity connection, transmission and electricity trading.

The two Prime Ministers witness the signing and hand-over of the MoU on the establishment of the Vietnam – Singapore partnership on digital economy and green economy. Photo: VNA

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese leader asked Singapore to increase support for Vietnam to develop and improve the quality of human resources and carry out the Vocational Education Development Strategy in the 2021-2030 period.

On this occasion, he proposed the Singaporean Government continue to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country, and cement the bilateral relations on the basis of cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Regarding regional and international issues, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation, maintain solidarity and unity, and promote ASEAN centrality, especially in strategic issues such as peace and stability in the Bien Dong Sea and the region.

Chinh invited his Singaporean counterpart to pay an official visit to Vietnam in 2023. The latter accepted the invitation.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing and hand-over of cooperation documents, including the MoU on the establishment of the Vietnam – Singapore partnership on digital economy and green economy; another on a cooperation plan in economics and trade between the two Ministries of Industry and Trade; the one on youth cooperation between the National Committee on Youth of Vietnam and the National Youth Council of Singapore; and an MoU on maritime cooperation between the Vietnam Maritime Administration and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (L) and Singaporean President Halimah Jacob. Photo: VNA

The same day, the Vietnamese PM met with the President of Singapore Halimah Yacob, Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, and Teo Chee Hean, Singaporean Senior Minister & Coordinating Minister for National Security.

PM Chinh expressed his delight at visiting Singapore in his capacity as the Vietnamese Government leader for the first time, during a meeting with the President of Singapore, vowing to encourage Singaporean enterprises to develop VSIPs in a green, smart, and energy-friendly manner, and to open more VSIPs in localities in outlying areas to improve the even development of regions.

He suggested both sides soon sign a bilateral labor cooperation agreement.

Expressing their satisfaction at the dynamic development of the Vietnam-Singapore ties in various areas, the two leaders agreed to deepen pillars of cooperation, especially in politics, economy, national defense-security, education and high-quality training, people-to-people exchange, tourism, maritime connectivity initiatives, as well as new fields in the fourth industrial revolution.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin at their meeting in the city-state on February 9. Photo: VNA

Meanwhile, PM Pham Minh Chinh and Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin both voiced their hope for increasingly close-knit, substantive, and fruitful ties between the two countries at their meeting on February 9.

They agreed on the need to enhance collaboration and sharing of experience in institutional building so as to help boost mutual understanding and exchange between the two peoples, especially the younger generations.

PM Chinh asked Singapore to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country.

Speaker Tan highly valued Vietnamese leaders’ decisiveness and vision during the national development process and the promotion of new areas like clean energy and sustainable development.

The Parliament of Singapore will support the initiatives and agreements that the two Governments are implementing in all aspects, he affirmed.

At the meeting, the two sides also discussed regional and international issues of shared concern.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Teo Chee Hean, Singaporean Senior Minister & Coordinating Minister for National Security at the meeting. Photo: VNA

During the meeting with the Singaporean Senior Minister & Coordinating Minister for National Security, Chinh suggested Teo further his contributions to boosting the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership across all fields.

Room for such engagements remains huge, the Singaporean minister said, affirming that he will continue to promote cooperation with Vietnam in these areas as well as in climate change response, and people-to-people exchange.

Both sides agreed that given the current complicated context, the two countries need to work together to maintain peace, stability, and cooperation in the region, and settle disputes by peaceful means and on the basis of international law.

It is necessary to strengthen solidarity and unity in contribution to building a self-resilient and prosperous ASEAN and promoting the bloc’s centrality, especially in regional issues, they said.