Many new opportunities for cooperation exist between Vietnam and Singapore.

At the invitation of the Secretary-General of the People's Action Party (PAP), Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam will lead a high-level delegation on an official visit to the Republic of Singapore from March 11-13.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh said that this is General Secretary To Lam 's first visit to Singapore in his capacity as General Secretary. The visit is of special significance, marking a new step forward in bilateral relations.

General Secretary To Lam held a phone conversation with the Secretary-General of the People's Action Party (PAP) and Prime Minister of Singapore, Lawrence Wong. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

The visit has three main meanings: Firstly, it demonstrates the importance placed on promoting relations with Singapore to a new level, in line with Vietnam's foreign policy. Secondly, it aims to further deepen relations between the two Parties, creating a solid political foundation for bilateral relations. Thirdly, it seeks to unleash the potential for cooperation between the two countries in areas such as: green economy, digital economy, science and technology and innovation, clean energy, and financial centers.

Furthermore, the activities during the visit also conveyed policy messages on science, technology, and innovation in line with Resolution 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, of the Politburo; and aimed to learn from Singapore's experience and promote investment in several areas of interest to Vietnam.

"This visit not only reaffirms the strong commitment of both sides to developing the current strategic partnership, but also opens up many new opportunities for cooperation, contributing to the prosperity and sustainable development of both countries," Ambassador Tran Phuoc Anh said.

Vietnam and Singapore are aiming to upgrade their bilateral strategic partnership framework to a new level. According to Ambassador Tran Phuoc Anh, upgrading the relationship is the beginning of a new phase, but the key is how to implement the content of this new relationship to bring tangible results for the people of both countries.

According to the Ambassador, first and foremost, the two countries need to develop a concrete action plan, clearly defining responsibilities, tasks, deadlines, and accountability. Both sides need to invest sufficient resources (time, personnel, finance, technology) in key programs, projects, and areas. In the immediate future, this includes offshore wind energy projects between the Vietnam Petroleum Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) and Sembcorp Utility; upgrading the Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks for the next phase; and areas such as low-carbon finance and data centers.

Both sides also need to coordinate their positions on regional and international issues, especially within the framework of ASEAN and other multilateral forums, in order to promote peace, stability and sustainable development in the region, making the Vietnam-Singapore relationship a model for bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic field, thereby promoting solidarity within ASEAN.

Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in Binh Duong. (Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper)

Professor Vu Minh Khuong (Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy) assessed that Vietnam and Singapore have great potential for strengthening their comprehensive strategic relationship. He stated that Vietnam is entering a new era with three important highlights: Firstly, institutions and infrastructure will become a significant strength for Vietnam in the coming years. Secondly, Vietnam places great emphasis on science and technology and innovation. Thirdly, Vietnam is taking swift and decisive steps from policy-making to practical implementation. This shows that if Vietnam strengthens its relationship with Singapore even more deeply, the two countries can achieve many positive results.

Following the signing of the Paris Agreement on restoring peace in Vietnam (January 1973), Singapore was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) on August 1, 1973.

Since the two countries established a Strategic Partnership in September 2013, Vietnam-Singapore relations have deepened across all five pillars: deepening mutual political trust; strengthening economic cooperation; enhancing defense and security cooperation; promoting cooperation in other fields; and strengthening cooperation in international and multilateral forums.

The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) are a symbol of economic cooperation between the two countries. From the first VSIP launched in Binh Duong in 1996, Vietnam has become the country with the most industrial parks built by Singapore globally, with 18 VSIPs in 10 provinces and cities, attracting over US$18 billion in investment and approximately 900 projects, creating jobs for more than 300,000 workers. The VSIPs truly serve as beacons of economic cooperation between the two countries, not only contributing to industrial development and modernization in Vietnam, but also to the supply chain and economic connectivity in the region.

Another significant milestone is that Singapore was 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. Prior to that, in October 2022, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation regarding carbon credits, in line with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/nhieu-co-hoi-hop-tac-moi-giua-viet-nam-va-singapore-211121.html