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| General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received Singaporean Parliament Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin on an official visit to Vietnam on May 20, 2022, at the Party Central Committee Headquarters. |
On the Party channel, the cooperative relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) in Singapore has recently developed very well, opening up favorable opportunities to further promote the extensive and substantive cooperation between the two countries.
New collaborative impulse
A vivid manifestation of that development is the increasingly solid foundation of political trust between the leaders of the two Parties and two countries, built through high-level exchanges and contacts with rich and diverse cooperation contents in a number of fields such as training and fostering of cadres, socio-economic development, etc.
Bilateral relations were initiated by high-level visits three decades ago: late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, also the founder of the PAP, visited Vietnam in 1992 and late General Secretary Do Muoi visited Singapore in 1993.
In the following years, the cooperative relationship between the two Parties and the two countries was continuously fostered through mutual visits, creating memorable milestones: in 2003, former Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong paid an official visit to Vietnam; in 2013, Singaporean Prime Minister and PAP Secretary General Lee Hsien Loong paid an official visit to Vietnam; in 2017, PAP Chairman Khaw Boon Wan visited Vietnam; and especially the official visit to Singapore by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2012.
Recently, the resumption of visits by senior leaders of the two Parties and countries as soon as Vietnam and Singapore reopened after the Covid-19 pandemic has had important significance, creating new momentum for the process of cooperation in post-pandemic recovery.
The official visit to Singapore in November 2022 by Comrade Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Organizing Committee, is the first high-ranking delegation of our Party to visit and work in Singapore since the 13th National Congress, consolidating the foundations and promoting new methods of cooperation between the two Parties.
The visit affirms the leadership position, enhances the status of the two Parties; contributes to consolidating and strengthening the close relationship and political trust between the leaders of our Party and the leaders of the PAP, creating momentum to promote comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the coming time. During the visit, the leaders of the two parties had a substantive exchange on the situation of each Party and each country and wished to increase the exchange of experiences in Party organization and building in the context of the current world, regional and domestic situation posing many challenges and increasing demands on the ruling parties.
The PAP leaders highly appreciated our Party's determination to promote economic reform and opening, and appreciated the qualities of the Vietnamese people such as diligence, discipline, aspiration to develop the country and always looking to the future.
In addition to high-level and all-level contacts and exchanges, cooperation in training and fostering strategic-level officials is also a bright spot in the cooperation model between our Party and the PAP. Up to now, through the two countries' Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the two sides have signed and implemented four cooperation agreements, including the "Research Program for mid-level and senior officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Singapore, 2011-2013 period" (for department-level officials), "Research Program and thematic training program for senior officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam, 2013-2015 period" and has continued to sign extensions for the 2017-2019 and 2021-2023 periods.
In May 2023, the two sides successfully coordinated to organize the 17th delegation of high-ranking officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam led by Comrade Phan Van Mai, member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to study in Singapore, specifically implementing cooperation in the field of training and fostering strategic-level officials to meet the development needs of Vietnam at the central and local levels.
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| Head of the Central External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung (top right) held an online meeting with Foreign Minister and Head of the External Relations Commission of the Singapore People's Action Party (PAP) Vivian Balakrishnan (top left), April 29, 2021. |
Directions for the future
In the context of the current complex and uncertain regional and global situation, both Singapore and Vietnam are fully aware of the importance of working together to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world. The Communist Party of Vietnam and the People's Action Party of Singapore, as the two ruling parties, need to further strengthen their cooperative relationship, creating a political foundation to guide the bilateral relationship, focusing on the following main orientations in the coming time:
Firstly, continue to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, including young leaders, focusing on building personal relationships between the successive leadership teams of the two parties and two countries, creating a long-term political foundation for developing bilateral relations, thereby creating conditions for promoting cooperation in other fields.
Second, promote relations between Party Committees at the Central level, state agencies, mass organizations as well as between Vietnamese localities and corresponding agencies of Singapore, taking advantage of Singapore's strengths and support for Vietnam, especially in the process of economic development and national capacity building, in line with Vietnam's goals and priorities.
Third, promote people-to-people exchanges between localities of Vietnam and Singapore, including youth; promote among all classes of people, especially the young generation, the good friendship and cooperation between the two countries after 50 years of establishment and development.
Fourth, focus on improving the quality and effectiveness of research courses within the framework of the Training Programs for Senior Officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Singapore, adjusting the content appropriately towards enhancing cooperation and two-way mutual learning, including sharing Vietnam's experiences with Singaporean officials, in line with the needs and practical situations of Vietnamese ministries, branches and localities.
In the light of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the guidance of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, in his speech at the National Foreign Affairs Conference in December 2021, the activities of the three pillars of modern diplomacy, including Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, have been and are being strongly, synchronously and smoothly deployed in the Vietnam-Singapore relationship.
Along with the political trust between leaders, understanding and cultural similarities between the people of the two countries have created a common development interest and sustainable cooperation between the two sides, which is a solid foundation to create new opportunities to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation, for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world in the coming time.
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