VN, Singapore vow to strengthen bilateral strategic partnership

VGP – Viet Nam and Singapore need to strengthen strategic trust, boost cooperation for integration and deepen their strategic partnership as the region is confronted with new challenges and regional and interregional economic connectivity is the foundation to promote the recovery of the global economy.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, Ha Noi, March 23, 2017

The viewpoint was agreed by PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong during their talks in Ha Noi on March 23.

PM Phuc warmly welcomed the Singaporean PM to officially visit Viet Nam, voicing his belief that the visit would contribute significantly to strengthening the two cointries' strategic partnership in the new situation.

Expressing his delight to visit Viet Nam, PM Lee spoke highly of the outstanding achievements Viet Nam has attained in its national construction and development cause and agreed to accelerate the strategic partnership in a more substantive fashion.

Both sides agreed to further promote political relations through the regular exchange of high-level delegations of the Party, State, government and National Assembly, adding that people-to-people exchange will be an important premise for the strong development of other fields.

The leaders hailed the vigorously growing economic, trade and investment ties as a solid pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership, while affirming their efforts to promote the favorable business environment and strengthen connectivity between businesses.

The Singaporean PM pledged to support Vietnamese enterprises to participate further in the global market and supply chain, consider the establishment of high-tech industrial parks which also function to accelerate trade between Viet Nam and Southeast Asian countries.

Photo: VGP

Both sides agreed to continue effectively implementing the Framework Agreement on Viet Nam-Singapore Connectivity. Singapore will support Viet Nam in developing smart cities, enhancing the corporate governance capacity and improving the people's living standard; share its experience and facilitate Vietnamese startups' access to capital from investment funds; and boost connection between big Vietnamese cities, such as Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, with Singapore.

The two PMs shared the common view of a region of peace, stability, security, safety and prosperity, pledging to accelerate bilateral security-defence ties via the exchange of high-level visits and the maintenance of consultation mechanisms as well as bilateral and multilateral activities.

The leaders voiced their concern over increasing terrorism and piracy in the region and agreed to strengthen the sharing of information and experience in the fight against terrorism, maritime security and transnational crimes. PM Lee affirmed the willingness to support Viet Nam in building capacity for law enforcement and anti-crime forces.

Both sides also discussed measures to enhance cooperation in other fields such as environment, tourism, science and technology, information and communication, and justice. They agreed to facilitate the exchange of the labor cooperation agreement aiming to create a legal framework for this sector.

In addition to bilateral cooperation issues, the two PMs discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern, pledging to facilitate free trade and continue participating in regional initiatives such as the ASEAN Economic Community, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). Both countries will continue working closely with each other as well as with other members in seeking solutions to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). PM Lee affirmed Singapore's support for Viet Nam in the APEC Year 2017.

The leaders agreed to maintain consultations and collaborate closely with each other and with other ASEAN nations to build a united, dynamic and creative ASEAN and promote the association's central role in handling strategic issues in the region, particularly the East Sea issue.

Viet Nam and Singapore affirmed the significance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and maritime and aviation freedom in the East Sea; peacefully resolving disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); respecting diplomatic and legal processes; refraining from using or threatening to use force; fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon finalizing a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

PM Phuc appreciated Singapore's coordinating role for the ASEAN-China relations and pledged to continue working closely with Singapore to promote the ASEAN-China ties.

After their talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperative documents between the two countries' ministries, companies and localities.