Singapore (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, now on an official visit to Singapore, held talks withhis host counterpart Lee Hsien Loong following an official welcomeceremony chaired by the latter on February 9.

Speaking at the talks, PM Lee affirmed that the visit willcreate a strong impetus for the fine strategic partnership between the twocountries and is an important opening event for the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversaryof the partnership this year.

Congratulating Vietnam on its effective socio-economic recoveryand development post COVID-19, he stressed Singapore always treasures and hopesto further strengthen its strategic partnership with Vietnam.

The two PMs spoke highly of the positivedevelopments of the bilateral relations in both bilateral and multilateralaspects.

Singapore leads the ASEAN and ranks second in the world in termsof investment in Vietnam with 3,095 projects totalling 70.8 billion USD,accounting for 22.9% of the total foreign capital attracted by Vietnam. The Vietnam- Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) are maintaining effective operation, and havebeen a symbol of success in investment cooperation.

The two leaders agreed to intensify political trust;maintain exchanges and contacts at all levels and through all channels; promoteeconomic cooperation; effectively implement cooperation agreements, includingthe Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of the Vietnam -Singapore partnership on digital economy and green economy signed on thisoccasion; and create favourable conditions for the implementation of cooperation innew and potential fields such as digital, green and circular economies,innovation, clean energy, and climate change response.

They also reached consensus on stepping up cooperation in defence-security,tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

PM Chinh proposed Singapore consider the possibility ofsigning a labour cooperation agreement between the two countries; increase the import of agricultural and aquatic products, and garment and textiles fromVietnam; and facilitate the selling of Vietnamese goods in the distribution systemin Singapore.

With a stable political system and an increasingly improvedinvestment environment, Vietnam welcomes and creates favourable conditions forSingaporean businesses to expand their investment in the country, especially indigital transformation, green energy, science and technology, and innovation,Chinh added.

The Singaporean leader thanked Vietnam for approving theinvestment of VSIP Nghe An II, and showed support for his Vietnamesecounterpart's proposal on opening more parks. He also emphasised his backingfor collaboration in clean energy, and electricity connection, transmission andelectricity trading.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese leader asked Singapore to increasesupport for Vietnam to develop and improve the quality of human resources, andcarry out the Vocational Education Development Strategy in the 2021-2030 period.

On this occasion, he proposed the Singaporean Government continueto create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country, andcement the bilateral relations on the basis of cultural and people-to-peopleexchanges.

Regarding regional and international issues, the two leadersagreed to strengthen cooperation, maintain solidarity and unity, and promoteASEAN centrality, especially in strategic issues such as peace and stability inthe East Sea and the region.

Chinh invited his Singaporean counterpart to pay an officialvisit to Vietnam in 2023. The latter accepted the invitation.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing and hand-overof cooperation documents, including the MoU on the establishment of the Vietnam -Singapore partnership on digital economy and green economy; another on acooperation plan in economics and trade between the two Ministries of Industryand Trade; the one on youth cooperation between the National Committee on Youthof Vietnam and the National Youth Council of Singapore; and an MoU on maritimecooperation between the Vietnam Maritime Administration and the Maritime andPort Authority of Singapore./.