Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Lawrence Wong. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The visit took place in the context of the positive development of Vietnam - Singapore relations. On the occasion of the official visit to Singapore by General Secretary To Lam and his wife (March 11-13, 2025), General Secretary To Lam and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the upgrading of the two countries' relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. During the visit, the General Secretary and Singaporean Prime Minister witnessed the signing of many cooperation documents in the fields of wind power trade, digital transformation, prevention and combat of transnational crimes, financial innovation, etc., creating an important foundation to promote the Vietnam - Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming time.
Singapore is Vietnam's 4th largest trading partner in ASEAN (after Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia); Vietnam's 14th largest trading partner in the world (according to 2023 data). Vietnam is Singapore's 4th largest trading partner in ASEAN and its 11th largest in the world (according to Singapore's 2023 statistics). In 2024, the total two-way trade turnover will reach 10.3 billion USD, an increase of 14.7% compared to 2023, which is a good growth rate compared to other partners in the region.
Regarding investment, Singapore is currently the largest ASEAN investor in Vietnam, ranking second out of 147 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 3,915 valid projects with a total registered capital of more than 83 billion USD. Some typical projects are the Bac Lieu Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Power Plant project (4 billion USD); the Nam Hoi An Development Company Limited project (4 billion USD); the Long An I and II LNG Power Plant project (3.1 billion USD).
Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) are symbols of successful economic cooperation between the two countries. From the first VSIP in Binh Duong launched in January 1996, there are now 18 VSIPs present in 13 provinces and cities of Vietnam. The VSIPs have been put into operation with high occupancy rates (about 83.2%), attracting 18.7 billion USD in total investment capital for about 866 projects, creating jobs for more than 300,000 workers.
On the other hand, as of November 30, 2024, Vietnamese investors have invested in 180 projects in Singapore, with a total registered capital of more than 668.4 million USD. Vietnam's investment capital in Singapore is mainly focused on science and technology (18 projects, 264.2 million USD), information and communication (66 projects, 193.2 million USD) and other fields.
Singapore is also the first country with which Vietnam established a Digital Economy - Green Economy Partnership (during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Singapore in February 2023), which is an important first step, helping to lead the transformation of the two economies into new potential areas such as digital economy, green and circular economy, innovation, clean energy, climate change response, etc.
Cooperation in education and human resource training is a highlight in bilateral relations. The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on educational cooperation (August 2023); established twinning between training institutions and provided each other with many scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate training; and exchanged many delegations of officials, lecturers, students and pupils from both countries.
Regarding defense and security, the two sides maintain the exchange of high-level delegations and the existing annual dialogue and cooperation mechanisms; in 2022, an agreement was signed between the two governments on bilateral defense cooperation. Regarding transportation, Singapore is one of the aviation markets of particular importance to Vietnam. Currently, Vietnam has 4 airlines and Singapore has 2 airlines operating 4 direct flights between Vietnam and Singapore.
The visit of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his wife is expected to continue to promote the good relations between Vietnam and Singapore, in the context that the two countries have just announced the upgrading of their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This year, Singapore celebrates its 60th Independence Day and Vietnam celebrates its 80th National Day.
![[Photo] The two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between Vietnam and Singapore.](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/3/26/294b2d9cbf494db29dbdc47951d8313a)
![[Photo] General Secretary To Lam receives Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/3/26/4bc6a8b08fcc4cb78cf30928f6bd979e)
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