Viet Nam, Singapore elevate bilateral ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

The agreement was reached by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during their summit meeting on March 11.

Prime Minister Wong warmly welcomed General Secretary To Lam on an official visit to Singapore, and spoke highly the great achievements of the bilateral ties over the past more than five decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973.

General Secretary To said he was pleasured to visit Singapore again in his new position on the occassion of special events of the two nations, including the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam's National Day and the 60th anniversary of the Independence Day of Singapore.

The two leaders agreed to chart major directions and tasked their ministries and agencies to develop an action program to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Specifically, both sides agreed to focus on enhancing political trust through delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level ones; expanding and deepening economic, trade and investment cooperation; promoting cooperation in digital transformation, innovation, green economy, clean energy; strengthening cooperation in the fields of defense - security, culture, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

To suggested Singapore expand the VSIP network towards innovation, low carbon emissions, and enhance cooperation in the fields of digital transformation and emerging technologies.

In reply, Wong said that Singapore would continue to support Viet Nam in improving the quality of human resources, especially strategic-level officials, and effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on the Viet Nam-Singapore Innovation Talent Exchange Program, and wants to send Singaporean students to Viet Nam to study, research and promote cultural and sports exchanges to increase mutual understanding between the two nations.

Regarding regional issues, the two leaders were unanimous in strengthening ASEAN solidarity and pay due attention to the sustainable development of subregions, including the Mekong Subregion, thus actively contributing to ASEAN's self-reliance, prosperity, sustainable development, and central role in the bloc.

The two leaders also affirmed their determination to build the East Sea into the sea of peace, cooperation and development, and work together with ASEAN countries to promote negotiations on a practical, effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

After talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in the fields of wind power trade, digital transformation, prevention and combat of transnational crimes, financial innovation, forging an important foundation to promote the Viet Nam - Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming time.

Up to now, Vietnam has established comprehensive stategic partnership with 12 countries, including China (2008), Russia (2012), India (2016), South Korea (2022), the U.S. (2023), Japan (2023), Australia (2024), France (2024), Malaysia (2024), New Zealand (2025), Indonesia (2025) and Singapore (2025)./.