​Vietnam, Singapore bolster ties with comprehensive strategic partnership

​Vietnam, Singapore bolster ties with comprehensive strategic partnership

Vietnam and Singapore have elevated their bilateral ties by officially upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, a significant milestone announced on Wednesday by Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam (L) and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shake hands at their meeting in Singapore, March 12, 2025. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

The announcement came during a joint press conference following their discussions, which took place as part of Lam’s ongoing official visit to Singapore.

Both leaders emphasized their commitment to deepening cooperation across various fields, with PM Wong highlighting numerous agreements signed in key areas such as transnational crime prevention, digital transformation, financial technology, the green economy, and renewable energy.

The two sides also agreed to expand collaboration on Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) in Vietnam, aiming to create jobs and develop smarter, more modern industrial zones in the future.

According to PM Wong, these initiatives reflect the depth of the comprehensive strategic partnership and contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Party General Secretary Lam affirmed that the decision to elevate the ties was based on the fruitful achievements of past cooperation, mutual trust, and shared strategic priorities.

This new framework is expected to enhance political trust and open broader, deeper avenues for collaboration, positioning Vietnam-Singapore relations as a model for international partnerships in the modern era, Lam stated.

Both leaders outlined directions for implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership in the coming years.

Lam emphasized that since Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN in 1995, Singapore has remained an essential economic partner, supporting Vietnam’s reform, economic opening, and development.

“Vietnam is proud to have Singapore as a comprehensive strategic partner,” Lam stressed.

Earlier, during their talks, PM Wong noted that this is the first comprehensive strategic partnership Singapore has established with an ASEAN country, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He underlined that both sides had agreed on key strategic directions and tasked relevant ministries and agencies with formulating an action plan to ensure substantive and effective cooperation.

The plan focuses on strengthening political trust through high-level delegation exchanges, expanding economic, trade, and investment ties, and advancing partnerships in digital transformation, innovation, the green economy, and clean energy.

Collaboration in defense, security, culture, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges will also be bolstered.

The two leaders reviewed notable achievements in bilateral cooperation, particularly in economic and trade relations.

In 2024, bilateral trade surpassed US$9 billion, with Singapore ranking as Vietnam’s second-largest investor, having accumulated more than $80 billion in investment.

The VSIPs have steadily developed in Vietnam, serving as a symbol of their successful partnership.

Party leader Lam proposed expanding the VSIP 2.0 network with a focus on innovation and low-carbon emissions while deepening cooperation in digital transformation and emerging technologies.

PM Wong expressed interest in strengthening collaboration on seaport and maritime infrastructure development through digital transformation.

He also reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to supporting Vietnam in enhancing human resource quality, particularly among strategic-level officials, and implementing the Vietnam-Singapore Innovation Talent Exchange Program.

Singapore also expressed interest in sending students to Vietnam for study and research, fostering cultural and sports exchanges, and promoting youth interactions to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations.

Regarding regional issues, both leaders agreed to reinforce ASEAN solidarity and prioritize the sustainable development of sub-regions, including the Mekong Sub-region.

Their shared vision includes contributing to ASEAN’s self-reliance, prosperity, and sustainable development while strengthening its central role in regional affairs, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, cooperation, and development in the East Vietnam Sea.

They pledged to work with other ASEAN countries to advance negotiations on a practical and effective Code of Conduct for the East Vietnam Sea in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

At the conclusion of their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of cooperation agreements in various fields, including wind power trade, digital transformation, investment, financial innovation, VSIP infrastructure development, and transnational crime prevention.

These agreements mark the first steps in bringing the new comprehensive strategic partnership to fruition.

Vietnam and Singapore established diplomatic relations in August 1973 and formed a strategic partnership in 2013 as they marked the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Tuoi Tre News