Party chief’s visit creates motivation for Vietnam – Singapore all-around cooperation
Economic and trade cooperation has remained a highlight in Vietnam-Singapore relations, especially during the past decade of their strategic partnership (2013-2024).
One of the success symbols in the bilateral relations is the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) model. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – General Secretary🦋 of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam’s ongoing official visiღt to Singapore is expected to create new momentum for bilateral cooperation, particularly in innovation, renewable energy, and digital transformation, that aligns with both countries' sustainable development goals.
The Hoa Sen Group and Singapore’s SP Group sign a strategic partnership to promote sustainable development of clean energy across Hoa Sen’s factories. (Photo: VNA)
Economic and trade cooperation has remained a highlight in Vietnam-Singapore relations, especially during the past decade of their strategic partnership (2013-2024). Both sides are now members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), contributing to economic growth in each country and the region.
Big investors
Experts note that the Vietnam-Singapore relations have grown strongly since the two countries established the strategic partnership in 2013. Notably, Singapore is the largest ASEAN investor in Vietnam and ranks second among 147 countries and territories investing in the country, with 3,915 valid projects worth over 83 billion USD. Singaporean investors have poured capital into 18 out of the 21 economic sectors in Vietnam, with focus on processing, manufacturing, real estate, and production and distribution of electricity and gas.
One of the success symbols in the bilateral relations is the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) model. To date, there are 18 VSIPs in 13 provinces and cities, attracting over 18.7 billion USD in investment and creating jobs for more than 300,000 workers.
Meanwhile, Vietnam has run 180 investment projects in Singapore, with a total registered capital of over 668 million USD, focusing on science – technology, and information – communications.
Vietnam and Singapore are influential ASEAN members at multilateral forums and on the international arena. The two countries have closely cooperated in regional and international organisations and multilateral forums such as the UN, ASEAN, the Asia – Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and in regional and global issues of common concern.
According to experts, strong political and diplomatic ties, geographical proximity, cultural similarities in Southeast Asia, and shared membership in FTAs are favourable factors for bcooperation between the two nations. Additionally, many Singaporean business delegations, supported by the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, visit Vietnam annually to explore the market, seek investment opportunities and partners, and strengthen industrial, trade, and service ties. This reflects the high demand for cooperation between businesses from both sides.
Cao Xuan Thang, Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Singapore, said Singapore is home to numerous multinational companies and serves as a large regional and global hub for information, trade, finance, and logistics. It is also a key international air transit hub and a vital gateway for Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.
Notably, the Vietnam-Singapore comprehensive economic partnership agreement, signed in December 2020, has opened up many opportunities for trade cooperation.
In January this year, Vietnam became Singapore’s 9th largest trading partner, with two-way trade hitting over 3.39 billion SGD (over 2.54 billion USD), up 16.83% year-on-year. This helps position Vietnam as Singapore’s 15th largest import market.
At a meeting with Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long emphasised that Singapore is a particularly important partner for Vietnam, and one of Vietnam’s leading economic, trade, and investment partners in the region and the world.
Beyond trade and industry, developing digital economy, and green, clean and sustainable economy is promising areas for stronger cooperation between Vietnamese and Singaporean businesses, he said, expressing his hope that Singapore will continue to support Vietnam in these areas.
To achieve their target of cutting emissions to net zero by 2050, both countries must effectively implement their Green-Digital Economic Partnership imitated in 2023, he noted.
Further strengthening cooperation
To promote market access for Vietnamese pork, chicken, and poultry eggs in Singapore, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh stated during a meeting with representatives of the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) that Vietnam is ready to cooperate with and support Singapore in ensuring food security.
Vietnam also hopes that the SFA and relevant authorities will expedite the evaluation of Vietnamese enterprises and farms, paving the way for Vietnam’s official export of chicken and poultry eggs to Singapore, the diplomat said.
Damian Chan, CEO of SFA, said heat-processed chicken products from Vietnam could soon be considered for official export to Singapore. He hoped that poultry eggs and other meat products of Vietnam will meet requirements in the future.
The Hoa Sen Group and Singapore’s SP Group recently signed a strategic partnership to promote sustainable development of clean energy across Hoa Sen’s factories nationwide. Accordingly, the SP Group will serve as the consultant for the Hoa Sen Group’s transition to clean energy, providing expertise in power grid infrastructure investment, cooling systems, energy-saving solutions, and other projects for the Vietnamese enterprise’s facilities.
Vu Van Thanh, General Director of the Hoa Sen Group, said that this partnership reflects the company’s strong commitment to sustainable development by promoting green production and emission reduction solutions to meet green standards.
To achieve successful and sustainable exports to Singapore, Thang advised Vietnamese businesses to thoroughly research the market and stay updated on import trends to build effective export strategies.
According Thang, Singapore is becoming more cautious in its trade policies, seeking to avoid over-reliance on any single export or import market. This presents an opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to deepen their presence in Singapore, contributing to Vietnam’s export growth./.
Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse pay an official visit to Singapore from March 11 to 13, 2025 at the invitation of Prime Minister of Singapore and Secretary-General of its People's Action Party Lawrence Wong. Since elevating their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2013, Vietnam and Singapore have strengthened their cooperation, yielding significant results across various sectors. Today, their ties are closer than ever, marked by high mutual trust and fruitful collaboration.
Experts and scholars in Singapore have proposed ways to boost cooperation in science-technology, innovation, and national digital transformation between the two nations, positioning the area as a new driver for Vietnam to enter a new era – that of the nation’s rise.
Professor Vu Minh Khuong from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy under the National University of Singapore told the Vietnam News Agency that both Vietnam and Singapore possess huge potential to elevate their relations to a new high in the coming time.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
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.
