The two leaders agreed to further strengthen defence and security cooperation, enhance coordination in combating transnational crime, cybercrime and drug trafficking, and expand cooperation in ensuring maritime security and safety.

In the economic sector, the two leaders agreed to promote stronger economic cooperation and connectivity in a mutually complementary manner, with new breakthroughs and higher-quality development. They pledged to raise bilateral trade turnover from the current 22 billion USD to 25 billion USD in a balanced and sustainable manner, while accelerating licensing procedures and market access for several potential agricultural products.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam proposed that the two sides swiftly establish a joint working group to formulate plans and effectively implement the important “Three Connections” Strategy, including: (i) supply chain connectivity, (ii) connectivity between businesses and localities, and (iii) connectivity between sustainable development strategies. He also called for stronger cooperation in transport and logistics connectivity, as well as expanded collaboration in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, the digital economy, the green economy, innovation and the just energy transition.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums, promoting ASEAN centrality, strengthening intra-bloc solidarity, and enhancing cooperation within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and Mekong subregional cooperation mechanisms. The two sides also underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability, ensuring maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom, and resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

During meetings with King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the Queen of Thailand, talks with President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives Sophon Saram, and receptions for leaders of major Thai corporations, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam consistently affirmed his desire to see bilateral ties continue to flourish, particularly as both countries enter new stages of development for the benefit of their peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam highly valued the strong progress in bilateral relations over the past 50 years, especially since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership in 2013 and its upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025. Thailand is currently Viet Nam’s largest trading partner within ASEAN and one of the country’s major foreign investors.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam also attended the Viet Nam–Thailand Business Forum 2026, a major highlight of the official visit, reflecting the determination of both countries to deepen the Viet Nam–Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a more substantive and effective manner.

Highlighting the advantages for the development of the two economies, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam noted that one side possesses strong growth momentum, while the other brings experience and depth. If these advantages are effectively connected through a new strategic vision, Viet Nam and Thailand could jointly develop supply chains, manufacturing and distribution centres, commercial and service platforms, and new growth drivers not only for the two countries but also for ASEAN as a whole.

In recent years, Viet Nam–Thailand economic cooperation has become increasingly substantive and in-depth. Party General Secretary and State President To Lam stressed, however, that current achievements represent only an initial foundation and that substantial untapped potential remains. Trade is still largely based on goods exchange, two-way investment has yet to fully reflect the capabilities of businesses in both countries, and linkages in manufacturing, digital finance, tourism and services remain fragmented. The synergistic value within ASEAN supply chains has yet to become truly pronounced.

The business communities of both countries need to focus on building Viet Nam–Thailand value chains within the ASEAN economic space. Bilateral cooperation should move beyond conventional goods exchange towards joint production, processing, distribution and brand-building.

Expressing his hope that businesses from both countries would enter a new chapter of cooperation with long-term vision, innovative thinking and a stronger sense of development responsibility, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam emphasised that Viet Nam–Thailand cooperation should ultimately be measured through concrete projects, new technologies, new jobs, products with higher added value and more tangible benefits for the people. Through such efforts, the two countries can help inject new vitality into a dynamic, resilient and connected ASEAN.

As part of his official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation offered incense and flowers in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Udon Thani Province on the afternoon of May 27 and visited the location where he had lived and carried out revolutionary activities.

In the visitors’ book, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam expressed his deep emotion upon visiting the site. He highly appreciated the dedication and efforts of the Vietnamese community in Thailand in preserving and enhancing the memorial complex, while maintaining unity, preserving the Vietnamese language and national cultural identity, and fostering friendship between the peoples of Viet Nam and Thailand. The site is not only a place of profound historical and cultural significance for the Vietnamese community in Thailand, but also a vivid symbol of the close ties between the two nations over many decades. 

The Party General Secretary and State President expressed his hope that overseas Vietnamese would continue to uphold their patriotic tradition, make greater contributions to their homeland, and serve as an important bridge for friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Thailand.

President Tharman agreed with General Secretary and State President To Lam on making science, technology and innovation a pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including through stronger implementation of the State–Business–Research Institution connectivity model and closer links between research and practical application.

The two sides also agreed to deepen defence and security cooperation in line with the stature of the relationship and the high level of political trust, while expanding cooperation into new areas. Both leaders emphasised the importance of strengthening the social foundations of bilateral relations through cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

They reaffirmed their commitment to effective coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, support for multilateralism, and the strengthening of the United Nations’ role in addressing global security and development challenges. They also stressed the importance of reinforcing ASEAN centrality, particularly as Singapore assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027 and as Viet Nam hosts APEC, while promoting negotiations towards an effective, substantive and practical Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam held talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

The two leaders reviewed major achievements in bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, investment and economic ties. They also noted positive progress in defence and security, education and training, science and technology, tourism, labour cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

Discussing future directions, the two leaders agreed to continue strengthening political trust through high-level exchanges and regular contacts, maximise the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and elevate strategic cooperation in line with the new relationship framework. This includes establishing a Strategic Dialogue mechanism between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and Singapore’s People’s Action Party. They agreed to make science and technology cooperation more practical, welcomed the organisation of the Viet Nam–Singapore Technology Connectivity Forum, and endorsed the Viet Nam–Singapore technology connectivity initiative with a view to building a strategic science and technology ecosystem between the two countries.

The two sides also agreed to further advance the Green Economy–Digital Economy Partnership, particularly through clean energy connectivity projects and carbon credit exchanges; support the development of an International Financial Centre; and expand next-generation Viet Nam–Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) linked to high-tech transfer. They agreed to strengthen defence and security cooperation, promote collaboration in combating cybercrime and drug trafficking, expand cultural, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, and improve connectivity in aviation, logistics and maritime transport. Both sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in strengthening supply-chain resilience, including food and energy security.

Viet Nam proposed that Singapore continue to prioritise the country in training officials, particularly strategic-level leaders, and nurturing talent for national development in the new era. I also called on Singapore to support Viet Nam in the operation and management of the National Data Centre and High-Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence Centre.

The two leaders highly valued the regular coordination and mutual support between the two countries in multilateral mechanisms, particularly ASEAN and the United Nations. They agreed to expand and deepen cooperation on international issues, helping ASEAN respond effectively to challenges and strengthen its central role. Party General Secretary and State President To Lam affirmed that Viet Nam would actively support and work closely with Singapore in contributing responsibly to ASEAN affairs and in ensuring the success of Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea/South China Sea. They stressed that disputes should be resolved peacefully, without the threat or use of force, and in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents on party-to-party cooperation, judicial cooperation, supply chain resilience, and investment certificates for Viet Nam–Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) projects in Hue, Nghe An 4, Ninh Binh, and Hai Phong, among others. They also agreed to direct their ministries and agencies to promptly and effectively implement the agreements reached, thereby advancing Viet Nam–Singapore relations in a stronger, deeper, and more substantive manner, serving the interests of the peoples of both countries and contributing positively to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

As part of his State visit to Singapore, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam met with Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Seah Kian Peng.

Describing bilateral relations as exemplary within ASEAN, the two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the significant achievements in relations between the two countries in general and between their legislative bodies in particular. They stressed that although the relationship was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership only in March 2025, the two countries have, within a short period, witnessed remarkable progress across all sectors and levels. This serves as a vivid demonstration of the enduring and warm ties between the two nations, reflecting their shared values and aspirations. The two leaders noted that the similarities between the two countries provide an important foundation for enhancing cooperation, supporting one another, and serving as mutual pillars of strength in adapting and developing together. They also expressed a desire to further strengthen comprehensive cooperation between the two parliaments.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam highly appreciated the positive contributions made by the two parliaments, including in implementing the Viet Nam–Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, thereby helping to consolidate political trust and promote effective economic cooperation. He affirmed that the active cooperation between the two legislative bodies has created a favourable legal framework for implementing bilateral cooperation agreements. The two parliaments not only enjoy effective bilateral relations but also cooperate closely within AIPA and international parliamentary forums of which they are members.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam proposed that both sides continue to strengthen exchanges of high-level delegations, young parliamentarians, women parliamentarians, and committees at all levels, while enhancing cooperation and sharing experience in institution-building, improving legal systems, and formulating policies and legislation in new areas arising during each country's development process.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam met and held discussions with Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister, Senior Adviser to the People's Action Party, and former Prime Minister of Singapore.

Expressing satisfaction with the positive, substantive, and effective development across all areas of cooperation between the two countries after one year of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong exchanged views on directions for deepening bilateral ties in the new stage of development. The Party General Secretary and State President proposed that Singapore continue to support Viet Nam in cadre training, share experience in administrative reform, improve the capacity and effectiveness of the state apparatus, and assist in refining policies and mechanisms in emerging areas of development. Senior Minister, Senior Adviser, and former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highly valued the establishment of the Strategic Dialogue mechanism between Singapore’s People’s Action Party and the Communist Party of Viet Nam, affirming that, in his capacity as Senior Adviser to the People’s Action Party, he would continue to support stronger cooperation between the two Parties and promote the implementation of important bilateral cooperation programmes.

The most important task today is not merely to promote more connectivity activities, but to establish mechanisms that can transform connectivity into substantive cooperation and concrete projects. The spirit of “Tech Connect” should go beyond a networking forum towards a new cooperation model in which governments facilitate, scientists pioneer and businesses lead joint research, development and production efforts.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam stressed that the objective of both countries is not simply to receive technology, but to develop technological capabilities together; not merely to pursue short-term cooperation, but to jointly create new values capable of integrating deeply into regional and global value chains; gradually forming a Viet Nam-Singapore technology cooperation space where knowledge, data, technology and high-quality human resources are effectively connected to produce technological products and solutions of regional and international value.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam affirmed that based on the strong political relationship, strategic trust and the immense potential in science, technology and human resources, Viet Nam-Singapore technological cooperation will become a key pillar of bilateral relations in the years ahead.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese leader and senior officials of both countries witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents in high technology, AI and digital transformation, semiconductors, energy and supply chains, healthcare and biotechnology, innovation and startups, education, training and human resources development, digital finance, trade and services.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid flowers in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the statue and memorial plaque dedicated to him within the grounds of the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation also met officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore, together with members of the Vietnamese community, including numerous Vietnamese experts and intellectuals living, studying and working in Singapore.

He commended the active role played by the liaison board of the Vietnamese community in Singapore in supporting and uniting the community and preserving national cultural identity. He also highly appreciated the sense of responsibility and contributions of Vietnamese experts, intellectuals and scientists in Singapore in knowledge transfer, as well as collaboration in research and science-technology development.

The Party General Secretary and State President expressed the hope that the Vietnamese community in Singapore would continue to unite, prosper, maintain strong ties with the homeland and preserve the Vietnamese language and cultural identity. He encouraged them to remain an important bridge for promoting Viet Nam-Singapore friendship, while urging Vietnamese experts and intellectuals in Singapore to continue contributing to the training and development of high-quality human resources and to actively support scientific and technological advancement and innovation in strategic sectors, thereby helping the country achieve the development goals set by the 14th National Party Congress.

The Party and State always pay close attention to and support overseas Vietnamese communities. Domestic relevant authorities will continue to improve policies for overseas Vietnamese so as to better meet their legitimate aspirations, while creating more favourable conditions for investment, business, research, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer and the preservation of the Vietnamese language and national cultural identity.

The Party General Secretary and State President requested that the embassy continue supporting Vietnamese associations in Singapore and strengthen connectivity between the overseas community and the homeland to implement concrete projects.

A key focus of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s visit to Singapore was his delivery of the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue. This marked the first time that a Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President had attended and delivered a major speech at a multilateral regional security forum.

In his keynote address entitled “Proactively shaping peace, stability and development in a world of turbulence”, the Party General Secretary and State President stated that current instabilities reflect the convergence of three fundamental crises, unfolding simultaneously and reinforcing one another, namely a crisis of the international order, a crisis of development models, and a crisis of strategic trust.

He emphasised that these three crises are converging most visibly in the Asia-Pacific, and that because it is where these challenges converge, the Asia-Pacific must also become where solutions emerge.

From this perspective, the Vietnamese leader offered several recommendations for jointly shaping an Asia-Pacific that is peaceful, stable, resilient and capable of mitigating risks early and from afar.

He stressed that rules and dialogue must be made truly effective instruments of risk reduction. A rules-based order does not belong to any single grouping of countries, it is the common foundation upon which large, medium and small states alike can coexist peacefully, grounded in international law and the UN Charter, with full respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-use or threat of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, and equality among nations. Rules acquire real meaning only when they are implemented consistently and translated into operational mechanisms such as early warning mechanisms, emergency communication channels, incident-management protocols, self-restraint and verifiable actions.

The Party General Secretary and State President also called for the shaping of an open, inclusive regional architecture with ASEAN at its centre.

ASEAN’s centrality is neither taken for granted nor self-sustaining. It can only be preserved through unity, strategic autonomy and the capacity to shape a common agenda. Inclusiveness must be matched by effectiveness; dialogue must generate actions; and consensus must enable timely regional responses to shared challenges.

Viet Nam supports and stands ready to work closely with the Philippines as ASEAN Chair in 2026, together with all other member states, to strengthen peace and security, expand corridors of prosperity, advance connectivity, inclusive and sustainable development, and keep ASEAN’s people firmly at the centre.

Stressing that the three crises facing the world today are not an inevitable reality that humanity must simply accept, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam emphasised that it is essential to confront these crises directly but not allow them to obscure opportunities for action. In an increasingly volatile world, challenges arise not only from external instability but also from insufficient preparedness in risk governance. What matters is shifting from passive response to proactive shaping; from merely reiterating principles to putting mechanisms into operation; and from managing crises after they occur to mitigating risks before they erupt.

The Party General Secretary and State President noted that the choice facing the Asia-Pacific today is not whether to compete or not, as competition is an inherent feature of international relations. The more important choice lies between uncontrolled competition and responsible coexistence; between division and dialogue; between suspicion and coercion, and an order founded on rules and trust. Viet Nam believes that our region possesses both the resilience and the shared interests necessary to choose the path of peace, cooperation, and prosperity.

Viet Nam understands the value of peace through its own history and the value of development through its journey of Doi Moi (Renewal) and international integration. From that experience, Viet Nam recognises that its national interests are closely intertwined with the peace, stability, and prosperity of the region. Contributing to regional peace is also a way of safeguarding Viet Nam’s long-term interests. Expanding cooperation, reducing risks, and connecting legitimate interests are likewise how Viet Nam fulfils its responsibilities to the international community.

Affirming that peace, stability and development are the common denominator for all nations and peoples, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam stressed that these values only carry meaning when translated into concrete actions: exercising restraint amid disagreements, engaging in dialogue when differences deepen, cooperating when challenges transcend borders, and building practical risk-reduction mechanisms that can function effectively in reality. Viet Nam stands ready to work with countries both within and beyond the region to strengthen rules, foster trust, promote dialogue, enhance cooperation, reduce risks, and jointly build a safer, more resilient, and more prosperous Asia-Pacific. 

On the occasion, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam also answered questions from delegates regarding Viet Nam’s recent far-reaching reforms, the country’s foreign policy and contributions to maintaining peace, stability, and development both regionally and globally, Viet Nam’s response to the energy crisis stemming from conflicts in the Middle East, and the benefits, challenges, and impacts of artificial intelligence in the current context. 

The Party General Secretary and State President also held meetings with Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta; US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth; Richard Marles, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence; and Japanese Minister of Defence Shinjiro Koizumi.

Countries expressed high appreciation for the address delivered by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam. They noted that his invitation to deliver the keynote speech at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue reflected the international community’s recognition of Viet Nam’s role, voice, and contributions to the region’s strategic issues, while also demonstrating interest in Viet Nam’s perspectives and approaches to promoting dialogue, building trust, strengthening cooperation, and addressing common challenges. Many countries also expressed admiration for Viet Nam’s remarkable socio-economic progress, reaffirming the importance they attach to relations with Viet Nam and their desire to further enhance exchanges and coordination across areas of mutual interest, contributing to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region.

International media outlets were impressed by the keynote address delivered by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam at the opening session of the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on the evening of May 29. Numerous major news agencies and newspapers commented that his message not only reflected the pressing challenges confronting the world but also offered important insights into how trust can be built and peace and stability maintained amid intensifying geopolitical competition.

Indonesia’s Kontan Newspaper observed that one of the most notable points in the speech was the warning about three major and closely interconnected crises: the crisis of the international order, the crisis of development models, and the crisis of strategic trust among nations. The newspaper highlighted that placing the issue of a “crisis of trust” alongside security and development challenges reflected Viet Nam’s comprehensive approach to current global upheavals.

Singapore’s television and digital news network CNA highlighted the message from Party General Secretary and State President To Lam that: “the three crises facing the world today are not an inevitable reality that we must accept.” In his keynote speech at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, he called for strengthening international law, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth models, and enhancing dialogue, transparency, and cooperation among nations in order to prevent growing instability. 

Türkiye’s Anadolu Agency underscored the central theme of the speech as a call for countries to exercise greater restraint, strengthen cooperation, and resolve differences through dialogue rather than confrontation. According to the agency, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam emphasised that countries should proactively prevent risks before crises erupt, rather than merely reacting after tensions have escalated.

The state visit to the Philippines by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam achieved outcomes of profound strategic significance. During the visit, he attended the official welcoming ceremony and held talks with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., while both leaders witnessed the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents. President Marcos also hosted a state banquet in honour of the Vietnamese leader. Party General Secretary and State President To Lam met with the Vietnamese community in the Philippines and attended a business forum.

In Manila, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam held talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. 

During the talks, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive and effective development of the strategic partnership between the two countries since its establishment in 2015. They agreed to issue a joint statement upgrading Viet Nam–Philippines relations to an enhanced strategic partnership, ushering in a new era of bilateral cooperation.

With the upgrading of bilateral relations to an enhanced strategic partnership, both sides agreed to coordinate in formulating an action programme to implement the new framework in the coming period. They also agreed to strengthen political trust and reinforce the strategic foundations of bilateral ties through increased high-level contacts and exchanges, the effective utilisation of cooperation mechanisms, and stronger relations across channels and among ministries, sectors, and localities of both countries. 

The two sides also agreed to consolidate and promote substantive cooperation in defence and security as well as maritime and ocean affairs; safeguard freedom of navigation and overflight; and maintain regional peace and stability through coordination mechanisms, experience-sharing in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, marine environmental protection, and the sustainable development of fisheries.

On trade, both sides agreed on major directions to create breakthroughs in economic cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to their populations and the development of each country. They emphasised the goal of reaching a trade turnover of 10 billion USD as soon as possible, reducing trade barriers, diversifying exports toward potential products, opening markets for agricultural products, including fresh fruits, from both countries, and expanding cooperation into new areas such as the digital economy, green economy, blue economy, high-tech agriculture, and renewable energy. They also agreed to intensify cooperation in agricultural, forestry, and fisheries trade.

The two leaders shared a common view on promoting substantive cooperation in several priority areas, with a focus on developing sustainable agriculture and regenerative agriculture, improving hard infrastructure connectivity, opening additional direct flight routes, and strengthening cooperation between key port pairs. They also agreed to share experience in digital transformation, building e-government, applying artificial intelligence, and developing smart cities.

On regional and international issues, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially the United Nations and ASEAN. President Marcos Jr. sincerely thanked Viet Nam for its support during the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026.

Both sides emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and stability, ensuring security, safety, and freedom of aviation and overflight; resolving disputes by peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and actively coordinating with ASEAN countries to promote negotiations for an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea/South China Sea (COC) that is consistent with international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982.

The two leaders agreed to instruct ministries, sectors, and local authorities of both countries to closely coordinate and effectively implement the agreements reached by their leaders, contributing to bringing the Viet Nam–Philippines Enhanced Strategic Partnership into a new phase of development.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. attended and delivered speeches at the Viet Nam-Philippines Business Forum.