Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse are paying an official visit to Singapore and Brunei from February 8-11 at the invitations of Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong and Bruneian Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
As the first visit to Singapore and Brunei by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh as head of government, the visit demonstrates the Vietnamese Party and State’s wish to provide more impetus for and deepen Vietnam’s relations with two ASEAN members.
The visit comes at a time when Vietnam and Singapore mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership in 2023, while Vietnam and Brunei marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2022.
ELEVATING VIETNAM-SINGAPORE
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1973 and especially after upgrading their ties to a strategic partnership in 2013, the relationship between the two countries has developed to become more extensive and effective. In recent years, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnam-Singapore relationship has continued to grow strongly and dynamically. The two sides have maintained frequent delegation exchanges and meetings at all levels and have gained many substantive cooperation results with the signing of various cooperation documents, contracts, memorandums of understanding and agreements.
Over the past 50 years and especially in the last ten years since Vietnam and Singapore were strategic partners, the two countries have cooperated comprehensively in all fields, from politics, diplomacy, defence and security to people-to-people exchanges.
Based on the political relationship with high trust, economic cooperation continues to be a bright spot in bilateral relations. Singapore is currently one of Vietnam’s most important economic partners in the region. Despite facing the impacts of COVID-19, the total value of trade between the two countries still reached 8.3 billion USD in 2021. The figure rose by 10.1% to over 9 billion USD in 2022, in which Vietnam exported 4.2 billion USD worth of goods and imported 4.8 billion USD.
Over the past years, Singapore has been one of the leading investors in Vietnam. Singapore currently maintains its leading position among ASEAN countries and ranks second among 141 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Singapore has 3,095 valid investment projects, with a total registered capital of 70.8 billion USD.
In terms of sectors, Singapore has invested in 18 sectors, focusing on the processing and manufacturing industries, the real estate business, and the production and distribution of electricity, gas, water, and air conditioning.
Singapore's investment projects are present in 51 out of 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam, of which Ho Chi Minh City is the leader with 1,635 projects, followed by Hanoi with 493 projects and Bac Ninh with 93 projects.
By December 2022, Vietnam had 140 valid investment projects in Singapore, with a total registered capital of more than 586 million USD, focusing on the fields of science and technology, wholesale and retail, information and communication, real estate, and processing and manufacturing industries.
A Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in Bac Ninh
A Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in Bac Ninh
The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) are symbols of successful economic cooperation between the two countries, making an important contribution to the socioeconomic development in Vietnam. Currently, there are 12 VSIPs in nine provinces and cities of Vietnam, with a total area of about 7,517 hectares. The VSIPs came into operation with high occupancy rates, attracting 17.6 billion USD in total investment capital, and creating jobs for nearly 300,000 direct workers. The two sides are promoting cooperation and expanding the VSIP model towards green, high-tech and creative industrial parks, making positive contributions to the relationship between the two countries.
Based on a common perception of the complementary nature of the two economies, the two sides have promoted trade agreements that Vietnam and Singapore joined to strengthen cooperation and contribute to the post-pandemic economic recovery of each country as well as of the region.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the occasion of attending the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Meetings in Cambodia, November 2022.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the occasion of attending the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Meetings in Cambodia, November 2022.
Vietnam and Singapore are both members of new-generation free trade agreements, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). In the context that these agreements have come into effect and been put into operation, the results achieved during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit will contribute to bringing economic cooperation between the two countries to new heights.
Along with economic, trade and investment cooperation as strengths, Vietnam and Singapore also continue to strengthen cooperation in many important fields such as security-defence, finance-banking, natural resources-environment, law-justice, education, etc. Cooperation in these fields have been strengthened and promoted by specific and substantive written agreements and memorandums of understanding.
Regarding transportation, Singapore is one of the important aviation markets for Vietnam. As soon as the COVID-19 epidemic was basically under control, from March 2022, the two countries soon lifted travel restrictions and resumed commercial flights. Airlines of Vietnam and Singapore have basically restored commercial passenger flights between the two countries. In the first 11 months of 2022, Vietnam welcomed more than 134,000 Singaporean visitors, while Singapore welcomed more than 285,000 Vietnamese visitors.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Singapore President Halimah Yacob - October 17, 2022.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Singapore President Halimah Yacob - October 17, 2022.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-jin - May 20, 2022.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-jin - May 20, 2022.
On September 12, 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat.
On September 12, 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat.
During recent high-level visits, leaders of the two sides agreed on several major directions to promote cooperation in new fields, such as digital economy, digital transformation, regional and global supply chain connectivity, green economy, and so on. Deploying cooperation in new fields of mutual interest will play an important role in deepening and elevating the partnership between the two countries in the coming time.
Singapore is one of the important members, having a voice in ASEAN, as well as at multilateral forums and within the international arena. Vietnam and Singapore have always closely co-operated at multilateral organisations and forums, including the UN, ASEAN, and APEC, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. The two countries agreed to continue working closely to maintain solidarity and strengthen ASEAN's central role.
VIETNAM-BRUNEI BOOSTS
THE COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP
Vietnam and Brunei established diplomatic ties in 1992. In 2019, the two countries upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Partnership. This is an important milestone, creating a premise for the two countries' relations, to develop more deeply in many fields. Over the past time, the Vietnam-Brunei Comprehensive Partnership has continued to maintain a positive development momentum. High-level contact, at all levels, as well as bilateral cooperation mechanism between the two sides, are effectively maintained.
Established in June 2000, the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam (JCBC), chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is the only mechanism between the two countries, to review and orient the development of bilateral relations and exchange information and opinions, on regional and international issues of mutual concern. At the second meeting of the JCBC between Vietnam and Brunei in September 2022, the two sides agreed to promote the early development of the Action Programme, to implement the Comprehensive Partnership in the 2023-2027 period, and to contribute to the further development of bilateral relations.
The second meeting of the JCBC between Vietnam and Brunei on September 7, 2022.
The second meeting of the JCBC between Vietnam and Brunei on September 7, 2022.
Trade turnover between the two countries in 2022 reached 725.8 million USD, up 134% over the same period in 2021, exceeding the target of 500 million USD in 2025, that the leaders of the two countries have set. This is a positive signal that economic cooperation between the two countries is developing strongly. In the context that the two countries are making efforts to recover and develop post-pandemic economies, the two sides promote cooperation in potential fields, such as agro-forestry-fishery, Halal food, and infrastructure construction, while promoting Vietnamese enterprises to participate in joint ventures and cooperation with Bruneian enterprises.
Regarding investment, as of December 2022, Brunei ranked 26th out of 141 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 157 valid projects and a total registered capital of 971 million USD, focusing on the fields of processing industry, manufacturing, construction and real estate. Dong Nai province received the largest investment from Brunei, followed by the provinces of Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Long An, Thai Binh, and Phu Tho.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, on the occasion of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Cambodia, on November 10, 2022.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, on the occasion of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Cambodia, on November 10, 2022.
Cooperation in other important fields has seen many positive developments, bringing about practical benefits to both sides. Regarding defence and security, cooperation between the two countries has been strengthened within the bilateral and ASEAN frameworks. The two countries continue to effectively implement cooperation contents, based on the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral defence cooperation, including the exchange of delegations at all levels, training, information exchange and coordination in search and rescue work.
Maritime cooperation is one of the main pillars to implement the content of the Vietnam-Brunei Comprehensive Partnership, for the interests of each country. The two sides promote sea and ocean cooperation, including the effective operation of hotlines to support fishery activities, the implementation of joint ventures in the exploitation, farming and processing of seafood, sharing information on law enforcement at sea, and dealing with security challenges at sea.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, within the framework of the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting (April 2021). Photo: VGP.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, within the framework of the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting (April 2021). Photo: VGP.
Regarding tourism cooperation, Vietnam and Brunei have granted visa exemption for citizens of each country holding ordinary passports, and are negotiating to extend the visa exemption period for ordinary, diplomatic and official passport holders. The two countries have established a direct air route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Brunei, which has been operated by Brunei Airlines since 2014. In the context that both countries have reopened, the two sides agreed to diversify tourist products and encourage airlines to open more commercial air routes in order to facilitate economic, cultural and tourism connections.
Regarding agricultural cooperation, the two Governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding, on cooperation in the fields of agriculture and fisheries. Vietnam has conducted a pilot project to grow wet rice in Brunei, to assist the latter in ensuring food security. Bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, education, and people-to-people exchanges has also been further promoted.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the 38th ASEAN Summit, which was held virtually by Brunei on October 26, 2021.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the 38th ASEAN Summit, which was held virtually by Brunei on October 26, 2021.
The two sides have worked closely on regional and international issues of shared concern, and supported each other at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations, ASEAN, and APEC.
In 2020 and 2021, Vietnam and Brunei successfully assumed the role of ASEAN Chair, respectively. The two sides actively supported each other's initiatives, and jointly contributed to the building of the ASEAN Community, the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the promotion of regional economic recovery and development.
The two sides continued to affirm the importance of strengthening solidarity and unity in ASEAN and agreed to maintain the central role of the Association in the region while contributing to maintaining peace and stability and promoting cooperation and development, throughout the region and the world.
The official visits to Singapore and Brunei by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation contributed to realising the foreign policy of the 13th Party Congress. They are also expected to strengthen political trust and deepen Vietnam’s multi-faceted cooperation with Singapore and Brunei, in a more substantive and effective manner.
Published: February 2023
Production manager: CHU HONG THANG
Content: NINH SON-NHU NGOC
Translation: NDO
Design: DIEU THU - PHAN ANH
Sources of reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam News Agency
Photos: Nhan Dan Newspaper, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam Government Portal, Vietnam News Agency
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