Diplomat: Singapore-Vietnam ties elevated to new heights
The official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is expected to deepen and broaden the Strategic Partnership between Singapore and Vietnam and bring bilateral relations to even greater heights, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Catherine Wong has said.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong left the plane when arriving in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The official visitto Vietnam by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is expected to deepen and broadenthe Strategic Partnership between Singapore and Vietnam and bring bilateral relationsto even greater heights, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Catherine Wong hassaid.
In an interview granted to the Vietnam NewsAgency (VNA), Ambassador Catherine Wong said Singapore andVietnam share longstanding and multi-faceted ties, with substantive cooperationin many areas. The anchor for thisstrong relationship is close personal ties that Singaporean and Vietnameseleaders share, which are maintained through regular exchanges of high-levelvisits as well as frequent meetings at multilateral fora.
In this context,PM Lee Hsien Loong is making an official visit to Vietnam from March 21-24 toreaffirm the strong ties between the two countries. During his visit, PM Lee Hsien Loong willmeet several Vietnamese leaders, including Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong,President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and NationalAssembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, to discuss ways to further strengthenbilateral cooperation that is underpinned by the Strategic Partnership concludedduring PM Lee Hsien Loong’s last official visit to Vietnam in September 2013,she stressed.
According to theambassador, robust economic ties are a key pillar of bilateral relations. Singaporeis the third largest foreign investor in Vietnam with registered cumulativeinvestments of approximately 39 billion USD in about 1,800 projects. Bilateral trade amounted to 19.8 billion USDin 2016. Singapore is Vietnam’s 6th largesttrading partner, while Vietnam is Singapore’s 12th largest trading partner.
Seven Vietnam-SingaporeIndustrial Parks (VSIPs) across Vietnam are strong symbols of close economicties between the two countries. On thewhole, Singapore businesses recognise Vietnam’s growth potential with its youngpopulation, vibrant workforce and rising middle class, and are actively lookingfor opportunities to expand or set up their operations here in areas such asmanufacturing, retail, banking and e-commerce.
The diplomatwent on to say that trade and investment are only one of many areas in whichSingapore and Vietnam share substantive cooperation. The people-to-peopleties between Singapore and Vietnam have also flourished with greaterconnectivity, tourist and business links between the two countries. More than 17,000Vietnamese officials have participated in training programmes under theSingapore Cooperation Programme. The two nations’ tourism flows have alsoincreased steadily with more flights. There are currently 144 flights betweenSingapore and Vietnam each week, making it convenient for us to visit eachother. There is scope for both sides to further expand air connectivity tofacilitate even greater business and tourist flows.-VNA
Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Nguyen Tien Minh commented on the prospects of Vietnam-Singapore ties amid the current globalisation and digitalisation during a recent interview.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his spouse began a four-day official visit to Vietnam from March 21 at the inivation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City is improving its business environment to create the best conditions for foreign enterprises, including those from Singapore, to make productive investments.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong left the plane when arriving in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) 
