NDO - The Vietnamese high-ranking delegation headed by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has concluded its state visit to Singapore at the invitation of Singaporean President Halimah Yacob. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit marks the resumption of high-level delegation exchanges between Vietnam and Singapore while demonstrating both sides’ strong commitments to enhancing the strategic partnership and close cooperation towards recovering and growing together post pandemic.
As an important activity in the run-up to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties along with the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Singapore in 2023, the visit helps to strengthen political trust and further deepen the time-honoured friendship, causing the strategic partnership to become more substantive and effective.
LIFTING THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Upon his arrival in Singapore, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc was accorded warm welcome from the country’s leaders and people. Talks and meetings between President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singaporean leaders took place in an atmosphere of friendship, sincerity, trust, and mutual understanding. Within the talks and meetings with Singaporean leaders, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance and gives high priority to continually reinforcing and developing the strategic partnership with Singapore.
Singaporean President Halimah Yacob, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-jin all affirmed the significance of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit, emphasising that this is the first state visit to Singapore by a foreign head of state since the onset of the pandemic.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singaporean leaders all spoke highly of the recent socio-economic achievements recorded by each country, while expressing their confidence that the two countries will continue to grow strongly in the new normal. Noting the rapid developments in bilateral relations, especially since the establishment of the strategic partnership in 2013, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Singaporean leaders expressed their confidence that the Vietnam-Singapore relationship will be further deepened in a more substantive and effective manner across all fields.
CREATING NEW IMPULSE
During the talks and meetings, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singaporean leaders exchanged and strongly agreed on major directions for the two countries' cooperative relations in all fields. The two sides committed to further deepening political and economic relations by sustaining regular high-level engagements, and strengthening existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
EXPANDING ECONOMIC COOPERATION
The leaders of the two countries noted with satisfaction the strong development in bilateral trade and investment cooperation that took place despite pandemic-driven disruptions. The two sides acknowledged the 25th Anniversary of the first of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) and welcomed VSIPs to enhance cooperation and scale expansion in Vietnam toward green, high-tech and innovative parks, and notable contributions to its development.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The Leaders welcomed the agreement on economic and trade cooperation and MOU on digital economy cooperation, which would encourage cooperation in new fields including regional and global supply chain connectivity, the digital economy, agri-trade, and capitalising on Singapore’s role as a regional hub for regional economic connectivity and development. Recognising the complementarities of both economies, the Leaders agreed to leverage common trade agreements, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), to strengthen bilateral economic ties.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc congratulated Vietnamese and Singaporean businesses on the signing of many cooperation agreements.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc congratulated Vietnamese and Singaporean businesses on the signing of many cooperation agreements.
Within the framework of the visit, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the Vietnam-Singapore Business Dialogue and received leaders of leading Singaporean corporations in various fields including energy, urban development, industrial park infrastructure, and innovation. The Vietnamese State leader highly appreciated the corporations that have invested in many projects in Vietnam, which have contributed to increasing the two-way trade and investment capital of Singapore in Vietnam while creating jobs for Vietnamese people. He called on Singaporean businesses to continue and expand investment in Vietnam, affirming that Vietnam will create most favourable conditions for Singaporean corporations to conduct sustainable business operation in the long term.
At the Vietnam-Singapore Business Dialogue, Vietnamese and Singaporean businesses signed cooperation deals worth nearly 11 billion USD. Leaders of Singaporean corporations highly appreciated Vietnam's effort to improve its business and investment environment and expressed their thanks for the support of the Vietnamese Government and relevant agencies for their operation in Vietnam. Singaporean corporations have affirmed to continue implementing investment projects in Vietnam.
FOSTERING DEFENCE AND SECURITY COOPERATION
Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong witness the exchange of an agreement on bilateral defence cooperation.
Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong witness the exchange of an agreement on bilateral defence cooperation.
Leaders of the two countries spoke highly of the fruitful development in defence and security cooperation, and welcomed the renewal of our agreement on bilateral defence cooperation, which would pave the way for regular dialogues, military-to-military exchanges, education and training, and cooperation in military medicine, military intelligence, counter-terrorism, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The two sides emphasised the importance of cooperation in combatting transnational crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, economic crimes and cybercrimes. The two sides agreed to expedite efforts to conclude an MOU on cybersecurity cooperation.
CEMENTING BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP
In order to tighten the friendship between peoples of the two countries, both sides agreed to strengthen people-to-people ties including in the spheres of culture, youth, education and tourism. They welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent between the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association and the Singapore International Foundation and the signing of an MOU between the Vietnam – Singapore Friendship Association and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation on promoting people-to-people exchanges as well as entrepreneurship cooperation between the two peoples.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy as well as the Vietnamese community in Singapore.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy as well as the Vietnamese community in Singapore.
During the visit, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Singapore. This meaningful activity aimed to show gratitude to overseas Vietnamese who have made substantial contributions to the country as well as to consolidating the great solidarity bloc and promoting the strength of the whole nation.
Within the meeting, the President expressed his delight at the solidarity and cohesion of the Vietnamese community in Singapore. He also suggested the Vietnamese Embassy pay closer attention to and create better conditions for Vietnamese people to integrate and promote their strengths in the host country.
On behalf of Embassy staff and the Vietnamese community, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung affirmed that Vietnamese people in Singapore will make more efforts to contribute to the national construction, as well as cultivating the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.
STRENGTHENING THE CENTRAL ROLE OF ASEAN
During talks and meetings, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singaporean leaders expressed their satisfaction at the effective coordination between the two countries at regional and international forums in recent times. They also discussed the recent regional and international situation.
The two sides emphasised the importance of consolidating solidarity among ASEAN and the central role of ASEAN as well as enhancing regional economic integration, including digital transformation, rules-based multilateralism, and contributions to regional peace and stability. The two sides pledged to continue to closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, especially within the ASEAN framework and the mechanisms led by the association.
RECOVERING AND GROWING TOGETHER AFTER THE PANDEMIC
Discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the two countries, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singaporean leaders reaffirmed the importance of equitable access to vaccines and safe and effective COVID-19 treatment methods. The two sides recognised the importance of strengthening cooperation to facilitate the strong, even and sustainable recovery of the two countries in order to grow stronger after the pandemic.
The leaders also emphasised the importance of deepening and elevating the partnership between the two countries in the coming time by promoting cooperation in new fields of mutual interest such as digital economy and green economy.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob.
RESTORING SAFE TRAVEL
During their talks and meetings, the leaders of the two countries welcomed the progress made by the Joint Working Group on Health Cooperation and Border Management that was established in 2021, including the reaching of an agreement on the mutual recognition of certificates regarding vaccination against COVID-19. This will facilitate the safe resumption of regular commercial flights between the two countries, positively contributing to both countries’ efforts towards recovery while promoting socio-economic development after the pandemic.
INCREASING COOPERATION IN DIGITAL ECONOMY
Noting the importance of digital transformation and the fourth Industrial Revolution, the two sides welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of digital economy. This MoU will help create a framework for the Joint Working Group to implement specific cooperation regarding the digital economy, with the goal of enhancing digital interoperability and connectivity between the two countries and the region in general.
Cooperation in this area helps to support the growth of digital businesses and attract investment in innovation and technology, thereby enhancing access to the both ASEAN and global markets.
PROMOTING SUPPLY CHAIN LINKS
In order to strengthen economic resilience, the two sides are committed to ensuring the security and connectivity of supply chains. The leaders of the two countries agreed on the importance of creating a favourable environment for businesses to develop and encouraged the two sides to promote further cooperation in areas of mutual benefit such as infrastructure and smart logistics.
In order to facilitate market access in the two countries and in the region, the two sides are working closely to enhance the ability to support businesses and innovation ecosystems to make better use of intellectual assets, contributing to the promotion of innovation and economic growth.
BUILDING A GREEN ECONOMY
The leaders of Vietnam and Singapore both emphasised the importance of environmental protection, combating climate change and sustainable development for the health of the people and the planet. Given the urgency of climate actions highlighted at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), Vietnam welcomed Singapore's interest in supporting the ongoing energy transition, including its investment in low-carbon energy technologies such as the Energy Storage System.
Vietnam also welcomed Singapore's interest in developing renewable energy sources in Vietnam, with the long-term goal of exporting a portion of its electricity to Singapore. This could help decarbonise the grid in Vietnam and Singapore in line with regional decarbonisation goals.
On a broader scale, the two sides have also strengthened cooperation at both bilateral and regional levels to respond to transboundary challenges such as air pollution, water quality degradation and climate change, while at the same time taking advantage of the opportunities that come from the circular economy model and low-carbon development.
The good results achieved during the State visit to Singapore by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc have created an important framework and consolidated and strengthened the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership, making cooperation between the two countries more substantive and effective in all fields.
The official welcome ceremony for President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The official welcome ceremony for President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnesses the handover of investment licenses in Vietnam to Singaporean businesses.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnesses the handover of investment licenses in Vietnam to Singaporean businesses.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets officials and staff members of the Vietnamese Embassy along with representatives from the Vietnamese community in Singapore.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets officials and staff members of the Vietnamese Embassy along with representatives from the Vietnamese community in Singapore.
Production manager: CHU HONG THANG – NGOC THANH
Translation: NDO
Design: PHUONG NAM – DIEU THU
Photos: NDO, VNA, VOV
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