New impetus for ASEAN cooperation and relations between Vietnam with Indonesia and Singapore

Illustrative photo. (Source: Permanent Mission of Vietnam to ASEAN)

This is the first visit of General Secretary To Lam to Indonesia, the ASEAN Secretariat, and Singapore and is of special significance as it takes place at a time of many important events for Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and ASEAN. The year 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of Vietnam-Indonesia diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN. Vietnam and Singapore have just celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Vietnam and Indonesia have a good traditional friendship. Over the past 70 years, since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1955 and upgraded to Strategic Partnership in 2013, the relationship between the two countries has continuously developed strongly and reached new heights. The two countries maintain regular high-level visits and contacts. The Communist Party of Vietnam has official relations with the Career Party (Golkar) and the Democratic Party - Struggle (PDI-P). Political parties in Indonesia have always expressed their respect for the role and position of the Communist Party of Vietnam and their desire to promote cooperation.

Defense and security cooperation between the two countries has been increasingly strengthened through dialogue, exchange and joint training mechanisms. In ASEAN, Indonesia is Vietnam's second largest trading partner and Vietnam is Indonesia's fourth largest trading partner; bilateral trade turnover has continuously grown strongly. The two countries regularly organize cultural exchange activities, enhance cooperation in education and tourism; localities of the two countries actively cooperate.

Vietnam and Indonesia share many interests and strategic views on regional and international issues, especially within the framework of the United Nations, ASEAN and the East Sea issue. In 2022, the two countries signed an Agreement on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), ensuring the equitable interests of both sides, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This is an important historical milestone in the relationship between the two countries, contributing positively to peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

The year 2025 is of great significance to ASEAN and Vietnam, marking the entry into a new phase of the ASEAN Community building process, in which intra-bloc solidarity and self-reliance are two decisive factors for ASEAN's central role and the ASEAN Community building process. ASEAN continues to develop and innovate, becoming a successful regional organization in the world, contributing effectively to dialogue and cooperation for peace, stability, development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region in general and Southeast Asia in particular, while participating responsibly with the international community in responding to common challenges.

The visit affirms Vietnam's consistent policy of always attaching importance to developing ASEAN cooperation and relations with regional partners, wishing to consolidate and bring the strategic partnership between Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore to new heights.

Vietnam celebrates 30 years of joining ASEAN in 2025, this is an opportunity to review the results of cooperation and discuss future orientations. As a proactive and responsible member of ASEAN, Vietnam contributes effectively to ASEAN cooperation, closely and responsibly coordinates with ASEAN Chair countries, and together with ASEAN maintains the momentum of cooperation, maintaining the central role and position of ASEAN.

Vietnam and Singapore established diplomatic relations in 1973 and upgraded them to a strategic partnership in 2013. The relationship between the two countries is at a particularly good stage, with increasingly consolidated political trust, close economic and investment cooperation, and close people-to-people exchanges, creating a driving force for the two countries to move towards bringing bilateral relations to new heights.

The two countries regularly exchange delegations at all levels and effectively implement cooperation mechanisms. The Communist Party of Vietnam maintains good cooperation with the ruling PAP. Leaders of the two parties regularly exchange opinions on experiences in building and developing the country.

Singapore is Vietnam's leading economic partner; economic cooperation between the two countries has developed strongly and achieved many substantial achievements in trade, investment and connectivity. Singapore is currently the leading investor in Vietnam. One of the successful symbols of economic cooperation is the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP). Vietnam currently has 153 investment projects in Singapore. Bilateral trade relations are increasingly vibrant and balanced.

Notably, the Green Economy-Digital Economy Partnership between the two countries continues to open up new prospects, promising strong growth in the coming time. The two sides are promoting cooperation in key and potential areas such as digital transformation, clean energy, carbon credit exchange, cyber security, emerging technologies, etc.

Vietnam and Singapore basically share stances on regional and international issues and coordinate with each other at multilateral forums, including the United Nations and ASEAN.

Taking place at a time of special significance in the relations between Vietnam and Indonesia, Singapore and ASEAN cooperation, General Secretary To Lam's visit is a message affirming Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development; diversification and multilateralization; continuing to deepen foreign relations; at the same time implementing the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress, which emphasizes the priority of developing relations with neighboring countries and ASEAN; being proactive, positive, creating open space, promoting the channels of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy.

The visit affirms Vietnam's consistent policy of always attaching importance to developing ASEAN cooperation and relations with regional partners, wishing to consolidate and bring the strategic partnership between Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore to new heights.

The activities and exchange results during General Secretary To Lam's visit contributed to creating new momentum for the relationship between Vietnam and ASEAN and the two close countries in ASEAN, enhancing political trust and promoting cooperation in various fields, especially economics, trade and investment.

Wishing the State visit to Indonesia, the official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat and the official visit to Singapore by General Secretary To Lam and his wife along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation a great success, opening a new phase of cooperation, with a new height for the relationship between Vietnam and ASEAN as well as the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia and Singapore, contributing to the cooperation and development of the region and the world.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/xung-luc-moi-cho-hop-tac-asean-va-quan-he-giua-viet-nam-voi-indonesia-va-singapore-post863552.html