Vietnam and Singapore have agreed on a set of measures to carry their strategic partnership forward at the recent eighth political consultation between the two foreign ministries held in Singapore.
Specifically, they will facilitate all visits, with an official visit to Vietnam by former Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong scheduled for this September.
On the economic front, both sides highly valued the outcomes of the tenth ministerial meeting on economic connectivity in the fields of finance, information-media, education-training, transport, investment, trade and services.
Singaporean Foreign Minister K.Shanmugam receives
Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh. Photo: Le Hai - VNA |
Vietnam wants Singapore to invest more in logistics, financial centres and infrastructure in the country, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh said.
The Singaporean side, in return, described Vietnam as its key economic partner and vowed to urge domestic and foreign enterprises there to make ways to invest in Vietnam.
It welcomed a plan to launch a direct air route linking Phu Quoc and Singapore and hold a round-table conference on Phu Quoc investment in the state-city.
Beyond stronger collaboration in national defence-security and other efforts, Singapore will pay attention to developing education with Vietnam via scholarship grants and short-term courses.
State President Truong Tan Sang visits Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park
in Binh Duong Province. Photo: Thanh Vu - VNA
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong
attend the ground breaking ceremony of VSIP in Quang Ngai Province. Photo: Duc Tam - VNA
Vietjet Air launches route from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore. Photo: VNA
Singaporean Navy Ship RSS Resolution visits Da Nang City. Photo: VNA |
They promised to boost tourism cooperation, especially in cruise tourism, and fix a date for the 13th meeting of the Vietnam – Singapore Committee on Tourism Cooperation.
Both sides underscored the need to earnestly abide by international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, to which ASEAN and China are signatories, and formulate the Code of Conduct in the East Sea soon.
Production activity at Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park in Binh Duong Province. Photo: Thanh Vu - VNA
“PTSC Lam Son” FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Facility)
of Lam Son Joint Operation Company (LSJOC) is upgraded and repaired
at Singapore's Keppel Shipyard. Photo: Le Hai - VNA
The first phrase of Laguna Lang Co in Hue, invested in by Laguna Vietnam
under Singapore’s Banyan Tree Group with a total capital of 875 million dollars,
is completed and put into operation, providing jobs for over 600 local employees. Photo: Danh Lam - VNA |
They also gave high opinions of ASEAN’s active role in ensuring peace, stability, security, safety, maritime and aviation freedom in the East Sea.
The ninth consultation will be held in Vietnam next year.
While in Singapore from July 10-11, Vinh also paid a courtesy call to Singaporean Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam and held talks with Permanent Secretary of Singaporean Foreign Ministry Chee Wee Kiong.
By VNA/VNP