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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted the official welcoming ceremony for Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
At the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife paid an official visit to Vietnam from August 27-29.
On the morning of August 28, right after the welcoming ceremony, at the Government headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Consider upgrading the relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
At the talks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on his official visit to Vietnam; emphasizing the significance of the visit in the context of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1973-2023) and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Strategic Partnership (2013-2023); believing that the visit will contribute to further promoting the close relationship between the two countries; sending a message about the strong determination of the two countries to cooperate to develop to a new height that is stronger, deeper, more comprehensive, sustainable and inclusive, making a positive contribution to peace, stability and development in the region.
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| The two Prime Ministers co-chaired the talks. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The Head of the Vietnamese Government congratulated Singapore on its achievements in economic recovery and development; expressed his belief that Singapore will soon achieve the goals of the “Green Plan 2030”, build a harmonious and increasingly prosperous society; and contribute to building a strong, united and self-reliant ASEAN Community.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked Vietnam for its warm and respectful reception of the delegation; highly appreciated Vietnam's great achievements in the process of socio-economic recovery and development after the Covid-19 pandemic; expressed satisfaction with the development of Vietnam-Singapore relations in recent times; and emphasized that Vietnam is an important strategic partner of Singapore in the region.
The two sides were pleased to see that the bilateral relationship continues to develop rapidly, never as good and comprehensive as it is today. Important cooperation agreements, including the results achieved during the visit to Singapore in February 2023, have been actively implemented. Notably, in the first 8 months of 2023, Singapore became the country investing the most in Vietnam with a total newly registered capital of more than 3.6 billion USD.
Based on the substantial expansion of cooperation between the two countries in recent years, the two leaders agreed to consider the possibility of upgrading bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming time.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to continue to increase high-level visits and contacts at all levels through all Party, State, Government and Parliament channels; in particular, agreed to hold annual meetings between the two Prime Ministers to discuss bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual concern; effectively implement high-level agreements and cooperation mechanisms between the two countries; coordinate well in organizing activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Strategic Partnership in 2023, including the event "Singapore Spotlight in Vietnam" in October 2023.
Proposing Singapore to increase import of Vietnamese goods
The two Prime Ministers emphasized the need to effectively implement the Green Economy - Digital Economy Partnership (established in February 2023), highly appreciating the completion of the upgrading of the Vietnam - Singapore Economic Connectivity Framework Agreement, contributing to expanding and deepening economic connectivity into new areas such as clean energy and energy transition, and innovation.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked Singapore to facilitate the increase of imports of Vietnamese goods. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that Singapore facilitate the increase of imports of Vietnamese goods; develop and convert traditional VSIP zones into smart, green, low-carbon industrial zones, towards developing an industrial-urban ecosystem; expand investment in key and priority areas of Vietnam (such as electronics industry, smart manufacturing industry, information technology, digital, new materials); support Vietnam in developing supporting industries for manufacturing sectors such as textiles, wood processing, shipbuilding, industrial infrastructure development, chemicals, petrochemicals, liquefied natural gas, etc.
The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of defense and security through promoting the signing and effective implementation of relevant cooperation agreements; promoting the effectiveness of dialogue mechanisms; and coordinating in multilateral mechanisms and activities.
The two leaders welcomed the two countries' discussions on cooperation in digital transformation and cooperation in building a national data center. In this regard, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that Singapore help Vietnam build and operate a large database center to improve the effectiveness of the fight against crime, especially high-tech crime; and soon promote the connection of Vietnam's system with the electronic identification and authentication system in Singapore to create more favorable conditions for citizens of the two countries in the process of traveling, living and working.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister thanked and asked Singapore to continue supporting and creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Singapore.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to continue promoting cooperation in other key areas; appreciating important documents related to education, training, and improving the quality of human resources signed on the occasion of this visit; promoting cooperation in finance and banking; implementing tourism stimulus programs, opening new air routes; and expanding connectivity between cruise and cruise ship destinations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed expanding cultural cooperation between the two countries to keep up with or be equivalent to economic cooperation.
Discussing multilateral and regional cooperation, the two sides highly appreciated the two countries' regular coordination and mutual support in elections and candidacy for United Nations agencies and organizations; agreed to coordinate with other ASEAN countries to promote trade, increase investment and expand cooperation; ensure solidarity and unity and, together with other ASEAN countries, maintain ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea issue; emphasize the importance of freedom and safety of navigation and aviation; ensure full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); create a favorable environment and strive to build a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
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| After the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of seven documents between the two countries. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
List of 7 signed documents includes: (i) Agreement on the Research Programme and thematic Research Programme for Senior Officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam (2024-2026) between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore; (ii) Exchange of notes on upgrading the Vietnam - Singapore Economic Connectivity Framework Agreement between the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore; (iii) Memorandum of Understanding on the Singapore-Vietnam Innovation Talent Exchange Programme between the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore; (iv) Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Skills Development and Labour between the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore; (v) Letter of Intent on the continuation of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore; (vi) Memorandum of Understanding on Educational Cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and the Ministry of Education of Singapore; (vii) Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Sustainable Infrastructure Development in Ho Chi Minh City between the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and Infrastructure Asia, Singapore. |
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