Experts suggest ways to enhance Vietnam-Singapore partnership
Singaporean and Vietnamese experts have highlighted achievements of the Vietnam-Singapore relations so far and recommended sectors they should prioritise for cooperation in the time to come, on the occasion of the ongoing State visit to Vietnam by Singaporean President Halimah Yacob from October 16-20.
Associate Professor Vu Minh Khuong at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (Photo: VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – Singaporean and Vietnamese experts have highlighted achievements of the Vietnam-Singapore relations so far and recommended sectors they should prioritise for cooperation in the time to come, on the occasion of the ongoing State visit to Vietnam by Singaporean President Halimah Yacob from October 16-20.
Interviewed by Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent in Singapore, Associate Professor Simon Tay, Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), said that the two countries have really become very good friends and partners. The Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks are the clearest proof of this relationship, he added.
He noted the two sides now need not only industrial parks but also knowledge, employment, and training zones, which he said would be an important step in their development path.
The Singaporean President's visit to Vietnam will spotlight efforts to enhance the bilateral relationship, he said. The expert held that as Vietnam develops, Singapore will continue to be a suitable and useful partner.
In a similar interview, Associate Professor Vu Minh Khuong at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, considered the visit a strategic step in strengthening future cooperation between the two countries.
In the context that the world and the region are witnessing very strong fluctuations and gradually escaping from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many issues on which Vietnam and Singapore need to consult, build strategic trust and deepen their collaboration, he advised.
Khuong affirmed after five decades of diplomatic relations, including 10 years of strategic partnership, Vietnam and Singapore have achieved strategic trust.
He highlighted the achievements of the Vietnam-Singapore cooperation over the past nearly five decades. Notably, Singapore is among the biggest foreign investors in Vietnam with a total investment of nearly 70 billion USD, he said, projecting such investment to be expanded in the coming time. Singapore will also benefit from Vietnam’s progress, the expert noted.
According to Khuong, there are five issues Vietnam should prioritise in its cooperation with Singapore, including digital economy and digital transformation; a transition to clean energy; urban management and development, the governance of corporations, particularly State-owned ones; and the establishment of a strategic cooperation committee between the sides for regular consultations.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Singaporean counterpart Halimah Yacob at a meteing in February this year (Photo: VNA)
President Halimah Yacob’s visit to Vietnam from October 16-20 is the first State visit by a foreign head of State to Vietnam since the 13th National Party Congress, and also the first trip overseas by the President of Singapore since the COVID-19 broke out.
The visit takes place when the two countries are looking toward the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship and the 10th year of their strategic partnership in 2023./.
Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob and her husband will pay a State visit to Vietnam from October 16-20 at the invitation of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The State visit to Vietnam from October 16 to 20 by Singaporean President Halimah Yacob aims to elevate bilateral relations and further intensify the strategic partnership between the two countries, according to Vietnamese Ambassador Mai Phuoc Dung.
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.
Associate Professor Vu Minh Khuong at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (Photo: VNA) 
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Singaporean counterpart Halimah Yacob at a meteing in February this year (Photo: VNA) 
