The 'firsts' during General Secretary To Lam's visit to Indonesia and Singapore

General Secretary To Lam - Photo: TTO archives

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , General Secretary To Lam and his wife will pay a state visit to Indonesia, an official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat, and an official visit to Singapore from March 9 to 13.

The visit coincides with Vietnam's celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Indonesia and the 30th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN – a historic milestone marking the beginning of its regional and international integration process.

Responding to the press, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong stated that this was the first visit by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to Indonesia in nearly 8 years (since August 2017), and to Singapore in nearly 13 years (since September 2012). This was also a "historic" visit as it marked the first time a General Secretary had visited the ASEAN Secretariat.

The General Secretary's visit demonstrates Vietnam's independent and self-reliant foreign policy, which values its relations with neighboring countries in the region. It also clearly affirms the strategic importance of ASEAN in Vietnam's foreign policy.

Strengthening long-standing relationships with other countries.

Looking back at the relationship between Vietnam and Singapore, Indonesia, and ASEAN over the past period, Mr. Cuong said that Indonesia was the first country in Southeast Asia to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1955. The traditional friendship built by President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno has been continuously nurtured by generations of leaders and people of both countries.

Over the past 70 years, especially since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership (2013), cooperation between the two countries has become increasingly comprehensive and extensive. Exchanges of delegations and high-level contacts take place regularly both bilaterally and in multilateral forums.

For example, in 2024, President Joko Widodo and then President-elect Prabowo Subianto both visited Vietnam. President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with President Prabowo Subianto on the occasion of the APEC Summit and the G20 Summit.

Economic cooperation between the two countries has yielded many positive results. Indonesia is Vietnam's second largest trading partner in ASEAN, and Vietnam is Indonesia's fourth largest trading partner in ASEAN. Bilateral trade turnover has quadrupled over the past decade, reaching US$16.7 billion in 2024.

Defense and security cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia has been strengthened through dialogue mechanisms, exchanges, and joint training. Other important areas such as cultural cooperation, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges continue to be prioritized.

Cooperation activities between Vietnam and Singapore and Indonesia - Photo: VNA, THANH CONG, VF

With Singapore, after more than 50 years of officially establishing diplomatic relations (1973) and 10 years of Strategic Partnership (2013), Vietnam-Singapore relations continue to develop strongly with a high level of political trust and frequent exchanges of high-level and other delegations.

As the economic powerhouse of the region, Singapore is also one of Vietnam's most important economic partners, being Vietnam's largest investor in ASEAN and the second largest in the world.

One of the symbols of success is the Singapore-Vietnam Industrial Parks ( VSIP ). To date, there are 18 VSIP parks in 13 provinces and cities, attracting over US$18.7 billion in investment and creating jobs for more than 300,000 workers.

"In particular, the Green Economy - Digital Economy Partnership between the two countries is opening up many new prospects for bilateral cooperation in key areas and areas with great potential for the future," Mr. Cuong affirmed.

The two countries fundamentally share positions on regional and international issues, building an international order based on international law and global norms. At the same time, Vietnam and Singapore have close people-to-people exchanges, with approximately 20,000 Vietnamese people studying, working, and living permanently in Singapore.

Vietnam's 30-Year Journey in ASEAN

Regarding ASEAN, Deputy Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong stated that the three decades since Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995 can be considered "a journey with many memorable milestones for both Vietnam and ASEAN."

Those 30 years have witnessed a Vietnam that has gradually matured, developed, become more proactive, and is ready to contribute more to the common good. Throughout its participation in ASEAN, Vietnam has always placed the highest priority on maintaining ASEAN solidarity and unity.

Vietnam's ASEAN chairmanship in 2020 was a challenging one, but we were very successful in our leadership role, mobilizing collective strength to guide ASEAN through the unprecedented difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnam's contribution is also reflected in its responsible and proactive participation in shaping ASEAN's strategic decisions, from promoting the formation of ASEAN-10 in the late 1990s to many important documents bearing Vietnam's mark.

In particular, it is impossible not to mention the ASEAN Future Forum 2025, which was recently held very successfully in Hanoi.

After two editions, this initiative has gradually become a brand name for a truly ASEAN forum, affirming Vietnam's leading role in shaping regional exchanges and contributing to enhancing the country's diplomatic standing.

Along with efforts to promote regional integration, Vietnam plays a bridging role in expanding ASEAN's external relations and bringing ASEAN into increasingly deeper involvement in global processes in its role as coordinator of ASEAN relations with partners.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong - Photo: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

"I believe that the upcoming visit of the General Secretary will lay the foundation and open up new areas of cooperation for Vietnam's relations with Indonesia, Singapore, and ASEAN," Mr. Cuong expressed.

He believed that the visit would not only strengthen political trust and deepen existing areas of cooperation between Vietnam and the two countries, and between the Party and political parties in both countries, but also create momentum to explore new and promising areas of cooperation. This includes, in particular, science and technology, the digital economy, the green economy, and innovation, aiming to become a model in international relations.

"As members of the ASEAN family, strengthening bilateral relations between Vietnam and Indonesia and Singapore, and sharing a common voice on regional and international issues will also contribute to the overall development of ASEAN, for a united, resilient, and prosperous ASEAN," Deputy Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong affirmed.

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Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hai-thu-tuong-viet-nam-va-kyrgzystan-tham-nha-san-ao-ca-bac-ho-uong-ca-phe-2378294.html