Singapore (VNA) –The State visit to Singapore by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc from February 24 to26 is a very special and highly anticipated event in the city state, accordingto Assoc. Prof. Vu Minh Khuong from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Detailing his opinion, Khuongtold the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the trip that the two countries’relations are highly inclusive and extensive.

First, Singapore is currentlyone of the largest foreign investors in Vietnam as it has poured 56 billion USDout of the total 400 billion USD foreign investment registered in the latter. Second,bilateral ties, especially between their enterprises, have become increasinglystrong despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The third and most important is that bothsides aspire to vigorous development in the post-pandemic period, stronger integrationinto the world, and better connectivity with the strategic friends.

He expressed his belief thatPresident Phuc’s visit will lay important and long-term foundations for the twocountries to fully optimise the potential of bilateral relations and capitaliseon global trends, particularly in sustainable development, globalisation, anddigital revolution, to progress faster in the time ahead.

Both Vietnam and Singaporehave managed to cope with the pandemic, adopted the strategy of “living withCOVID-19”, and issued initiatives to mitigate the pandemic’s serious impacts ontheir economies. Given this, they will have much sharing in the coming time,according to the expert.

In the vision to 2045,Vietnam looks to become a developed country, which requires its greatintegration into the world, and Singapore, as a key investor, will surely makesubstantial contributions to and benefit from this development process.

Khuong also pointed out otheraspects of bilateral cooperation, including governance, urban planning,renewable energy, and electricity system modernisation, adding that Singaporewill continue assisting Vietnam to increase its integration into the world.

He noted via cooperation, thetwo countries can help solve the problems of the region and the world.

Regarding their cooperationin regional and international mechanisms, he said Vietnam and Singapore boastgreat integration into the world and highly respect the existing institutions thatconnect countries like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), theAsia - Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).Their own development and bilateral cooperation will considerably contribute tothe countries in these mechanisms, especially ASEAN.

The two sides should createan exemplary relationship in terms of strategic trust, economy, andpeople-to-people ties, Khuong said, suggesting frequent meetings be heldbetween their senior leaders and annual reports be made to review their attainmentsin advancing bilateral relations and contributions to ASEAN, ASEM, and APEC./.