Vietnam, Singapore combine forces to fight transnational crime
Politburo member and Minister of Public Security To Lam held talks with visiting Minister for National Security of Singapore Teo Chee Hean in Hanoi on November 16.
Minister of Public Security To Lam (R) and Minister for National Security of Singapore Teo Chee Hean (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member and Minister of Public Security To Lam held talks with visiting Minister for National Security of Singapore Teo Chee Hean in Hanoi on November 16.
Cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and Singapore’s law enforcement agencies has been sustained, Lam said, noting that the ties have made progress across such areas as all-level delegation exchange, crime prevention and control, fire prevention, search and rescue, digital transformation, and the building of the national population data centre.
The sides have coordinated to effectively implement outcomes of ASEAN ministerial meetings on cybersecurity, built related legal documents, and signed a memorandum of understanding on collaboration regarding cyber safety, cybercrime prevention, and personal data protection.
To further develop the teamwork, the two ministers agreed to sign agreements on extradition, the transfer of sentenced persons, and mutual legal assistance concerning criminal matters, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in digital transformation and the construction of the national population data centre between the Vietnamese ministry and the Prime Minister's Office of Singapore. The stage is set to combine forces in combating transnational crimes, and to enhance bilateral engagements in the field of national security and crime prevention.
The officials discussed cyber safety, administrative management, non-traditional security, and e-governance. The Vietnamese side hoped the Singaporean side would share experiences and offer it advanced equipment to fight crime and develop a big data platform./.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, his spouse, and their entourage wrapped up their three-day official visit to Vietnam, made at the invitation of PM Pham Minh Chinh, on late August 29.
The 14th defence policy dialogue between Vietnam and Singapore took place under the chair of Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Singaporean Permanent Secretary for Defence Chan Heng Kee in Hanoi on October 5.
The naval forces of Vietnam and Singapore joined in a friendship exchange on Sailing Ship 286-Le Quy Don on October 12, part of the Vietnamese vessel’s visit to the city state.
Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam paid a working trip to Lang Son on November 8 to explore cooperation and investment opportunities in the northern border province.
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.
Minister of Public Security To Lam (R) and Minister for National Security of Singapore Teo Chee Hean (Photo: VNA) 
