Viet Nam, Singapore to mull over lifting ties to comprehensive strategic partnership
VGP - Viet Nam and Singapore have agreed to expore the possibility of lifting the bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic partnership at an appropriate time.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) shakes hands with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, August 28, 2023 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The agreement was reached by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong during their summit meeting in Ha Noi on August 28.
The pair shared the same view that the relationship between the two countries is now at the best stage and the agreements reached during Prime Minister Pham's Singapore visit last February have been effectively realized.
In the first eight months this year, Singapore was the biggest foreign investor in Viet Nam with total registered capital of over US$ 3 billion.
The two sides agreed to continue the exchange of visits and contacts at all levels across all channels and organize annual meeting between the two Prime Ministers to discuss bilateral cooperation and issues of shared interests.
Both sides also agreed to coordinate in organizing various events in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and 10 years of the two countries' strategic partnership in 2023.
The two leaders underlined the importance of effective implementation of the Green Economy - Digital Economy Partnership established in February 2023 and the revised Viet Nam-Singapore economic connectivity agreement, which would contribute to broaden and deepen economic connectivity to such new areas as clean energy and energy transition and innovation.
Prime Minister Pham took the occasion to suggest Singapore increase the import of Vietnamese goods; develop and convert traditional Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) into smart, green, low-carbon industrial parks towards the development of an urban-industrial ecosystem; and increase investment in Viet Nam’s key and priority areas such as electronics, smart manufacturing, information technology, digital technology, and new materials.
He also proposed that Singapore support Viet Nam in developing supporting industries for industries such as textiles, furniture processing, shipbuilding, industrial infrastructure development, chemicals, petrochemicals, and liquefied natural gas, among others.
Both sides agreed to foster cooperation in defense and security through promoting the signing and effective implementation of relevant cooperation agreements, while bringing into full play the effectiveness of dialogue mechanisms and working closely at multilateral forums.
Prime Minister Pham asked Singapore to assist Viet Nam in building and operating a big data center to enhance its capacity in combating crimes, especially high-tech crime.
The two Primes Ministers agreed to continue promoting cooperation in other key areas like education and training, finance-banking, and tourism.
On multilateral and regional aspect, the two sides agreed to work with other ASEAN member states to promote trade and investment, ensure ASEAN solidarity and unity, maintain the bloc's common position over the East Sea issue.
They emphasized the significance of freedom and safety of navigation and aviation as well as full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, striving to formulate a substantial and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
After their meeting, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of new deals on sustainable infrastructure, skills development and the exchange of innovation talent./.
