Vietnamese, Singaporean PMs convene second annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur

The leaders expressed satisfaction with the robust development of bilateral relations following the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March this year. 

They welcomed the signing of the 2025–2030 Action Plan, describing it as a timely effort to comprehensively advance cooperation across six priority pillars for the practical benefit of their people.

Both sides agreed to step up high-level exchanges and effectively carry out existing cooperation mechanisms and agreements, particularly those reached during General Secretary To Lam's visit to Singapore and Prime Minister Wong's visit to Viet Nam in March 2025.

The pair also discussed new institutional collaboration channels, including enhanced party-to-party ties between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and Singapore's People's Action Party.

Prime Minister Pham suggested the two sides finalize a memorandum of understanding on a Strategic Dialogue between the two ruling parties for signing in early 2026.

Economic cooperation continues to serve as the backbone of bilateral ties. The two leaders acknowledged steady progress in clean energy connectivity and carbon credit cooperation, and concurred on formulating detailed annual roadmaps for each pillar under the Framework Agreement on Economic Connectivity. They also agreed to accelerate development of the VSIP 2.0 model into smarter, greener industrial zones.

Lawrence reaffirmed Viet Nam's role as an important regional partner for Singapore. He said the newly signed Action Plan would deepen cooperation across key economic sectors, and expressed Singapore's intention to expand agricultural and food security cooperation, noting readiness to import processed poultry, pork, and seafood from Viet Nam. He also welcomed positive steps toward a rice trade agreement to be signed at the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in the Republic of Korea.

The two leaders stressed the need to strengthen collaboration in defense and security, education and training, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, especially in fostering innovation-driven human resources.

Lawrence also affirmed Singapore's continued support for Viet Nam in improving the quality of high-level human resources. He agreed to promote data connectivity—initially in the fields of economy, trade, and population management—and said Singapore would explore establishing a data center within a VSIP park to facilitate bilateral business cooperation.

On regional cooperation, both leaders agreed to reinforce ASEAN unity and prioritize sustainable development in sub-regions including the Mekong, through enhanced maritime, rail, road, and air connectivity, as well as digital linkages. They underlined the importance of close coordination to leverage each country's role when Viet Nam hosts APEC and Singapore chairs ASEAN in 2027.

Reiterating their shared commitment to maintaining the East Sea as a region of peace, stability, and development, the two Prime Ministers pledged to work closely with other ASEAN Member States toward formulation of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct consistent with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS.

Pham invited his Singaporean counterpart to attend the third ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) in Ha Noi in April 2026, and the Autumn Economic Forum 2025 scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City this November.

The meeting wrapped up with the two leaders witnessing the handover of the 2025–2030 Action Plan for implementing the Viet Nam –Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership./.