Accelerating Vietnam - Singapore cooperation in the new era

In an interview with the Vietnamese press, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam emphasized that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's visit took place in a special context: The two countries have just upgraded their relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - the highest strategic relationship that Singapore has ever established with an ASEAN country and Singapore's third Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with important partners.

According to the Ambassador, in less than two weeks, the two countries have continuously had high-level visits, demonstrating clear political determination and aspiration to enhance comprehensive cooperation. "The Singaporean Prime Minister's visit to Vietnam right after General Secretary To Lam's visit reflects the importance of the relationship as well as the strong momentum of cooperation as the two countries enter a new era," said Mr. Ratnam.

Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam. (Photo: VNA)

Ambassador Jaya Ratnam said that upgrading the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is not just a change in name but also a strategic turning point reflecting the high level of expectations between the two countries. On that basis, many new cooperation initiatives have been and are being implemented, notably the Vietnam - Singapore Energy Project (VSEP) in the field of offshore wind power and submarine cables, promising to turn Vietnam into a green energy hub of the region. Cooperation on carbon credits is also being strongly promoted, opening up a new approach for both countries in their efforts to achieve climate goals, while creating jobs and encouraging green investment in Vietnam.

Economically, Singapore is currently the second largest foreign investor in Vietnam with over 81 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in about 3,800 projects. Vietnam has also risen to become Singapore's 9th largest trading partner as of January 2025. The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) - a symbol of bilateral cooperation, are thriving with 11 operational projects, attracting over 22 billion USD and creating jobs for 300,000 workers. New VSIP projects will continue to be expanded towards sustainability, innovation and high technology.

In addition, Singapore is committed to supporting human resource development for Vietnam. Under the Singapore Cooperation Program, more than 22,000 Vietnamese officials have been trained, mostly at the Vietnam-Singapore Cooperation Center in Hanoi.

"Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics to expand training for senior Vietnamese officials was signed. Currently, more and more Vietnamese people are traveling, working or studying in Singapore and vice versa. This people-to-people friendship network will continue to grow, contributing to promoting the growing bilateral relationship between the two countries," said Ambassador Jaya Ratnam.

General Secretary To Lam (left) and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at a meeting and speaking to the press. (Photo: VNA)

According to the Ambassador, Vietnam is entering a new era of development and strong growth; facing opportunities for economic take-off thanks to industrial modernization, digital transformation and green growth, and deep regional and global integration. General Secretary To Lam's recent visit to Singapore reaffirmed the two countries' shared commitment to developing bilateral relations in an increasingly deeper and more effective manner.

In that context, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will have a busy schedule in Hanoi, focusing on substantive discussions with senior Vietnamese leaders. Through this, he will demonstrate his determination to realize the set cooperation goals, contributing to helping the two countries overcome challenges, enhance their resilience and rise strongly in the new era.

Professor Vu Minh Khuong (Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore) affirmed that the two countries' upgrading of diplomatic relations to the highest level and the visit of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong demonstrate Singapore's great expectations for Vietnam's role, position and potential in the region. According to him, Vietnam's strong transformation in institutional reform, application of science and technology and impressive growth rate are opening up opportunities for extensive cooperation. In particular, in the context of unpredictable changes in the region and the world, Vietnam and Singapore need to continue to promote regular consultation and cooperation in practical areas such as digital economy, logistics, maritime and labor productivity improvement.

Professor Bilveer Singh, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, also emphasized the strategic significance of the visit. According to him, this is a testament to the goodwill of the new generation of Singaporean leaders in inheriting and developing the tradition of close relations between the two countries. “Maintaining regular high-level exchanges not only helps the two sides understand each other better but also creates a foundation for breakthrough developments,” Mr. Singh affirmed.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/tang-toc-hop-tac-viet-nam-singapore-trong-ky-nguyen-moi-211685.html