State welcome for President Sang in Singapore

State President Trương Tấn Sang and his Singaporean counterpart Tony Tan Keng Yam, Singapore, September 26, 2011

Following the welcoming ceremony, State President Sang met Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam who highlighted Sang’s selection of Singapore as the first country to visit after becoming the State President of Việt Nam.

Tony Tan Keng Yam said he hopes the visit will be a success, making important contributions to bringing the friendship and all-around cooperation between Singapore and Việt Nam to a new height.

The Vietnamese leader expressed the hope that his visit will help deepen and expand Việt Nam-Singapore relations.

Both host and guest expressed delight at the rapid and strong development in the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in the recent past.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-ranking and all-level delegations, especially at ministerial level, to promote cooperation in each sector and each field, as well as mutual understanding and trust.

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction at the results of the implementation of a framework agreement on Vietnam-Singapore Connectivity and agreed to set up more Việt Nam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) in Việt Nam.

State President Sang spoke highly of Singapore ’s role as the leading investment and trade partner of Việt Nam in recent years.

Meanwhile, the Singaporean President said his country’s businesses are satisfied with Việt Nam’s business and investment environment and will continue expanding cooperative economic relations with Việt Nam.

Both leaders reached consensus on enhancing cooperation in defense, security, tourism, culture and other fields.

The two leaders affirmed their commitment to closer coordination within the framework of regional and international cooperation, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN 1, ASEAN 2, ASEAN 3, East Asia Summit (EAS), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

State President Sang invited President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife to visit Việt Nam at a convenient time.

On the same day, President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife hosted a banquet in honor of State President Sang, his spouse and his entourage./.