Ngan showed hope to maintain the exchange of high-ranking delegations through all channels of Party, State, parliament, government and people-to-people contacts.

She affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of attaching great attention to developing strategic partnership with Singapore, while pledging to actively coordinate with the Singaporean side to implement the partnership and making the ties develop in a smooth and effective manner.

She suggested that the two sides work closely to prepare for celebrations of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2018.

The Vietnamese top legislator stated that Vietnam supports Singapore in performing the ASEAN Chair in 2018 and showed hope to receive Singapore’s collaboration with other ASEAN member countries in maintaining the bloc’s common stance, solidarity, unity and central role in the region.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Ngan stressed that Vietnam highly values Singapore’s stance, expressing her belief that as the ASEAN Chair in 2018, Singapore will continue raising its voice in the issue, and accelerate the building of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), thus developing a healthy and sustainable ASEAN-China relations.

Holding that defence-security cooperation is an important pillar in the bilateral strategic partnership, she proposed that the two countries optimise existing consultation and dialogue mechanisms, especially the Defence Strategic Dialogue at Deputy Ministerial level, while expanding cooperation to broader areas.

Both sides should also negotiate for the signing of a bilateral extradition treaty and an agreement on transfer of sentenced persons, she said, adding that the two countries should increase consultations and mutual support, as well as promote each other’s initiatives and share experience in organising ASEAN military-defence meetings, especially the ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM), ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plus.

For his part, Tan Chuan-Jin briefed his guest on Singapore’s development situation as well as the country’s efforts to protect the environment, secure sustainable development and create jobs for youngsters.

Vietnam and Singapore have enjoyed growing ties in all fields, including economy, investment, education and training, he noted, expressing hope that Ngan’s visit will help attract more businesses to Vietnam.

Singapore is currently the ninth largest trade partner and third biggest investor of Vietnam, Ngan said, adding that the Framework Agreement on Connectivity between the two countries plays an important role in coordinating linkage between the two sides.

She asserted that the two sides should work closely together to expand collaboration in six major areas of finance, information technology and communications, education and training, transportation, investment, trade, service and the construction of a software park in Da Nang province and a Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in Quang Tri.

She also asked Singapore to create favourable for Vietnamese products in the Singaporean market, especially agro-forestry-fisheries, processed food, footwear, wooden products, and construction material, while calling for Singaporean investors.

Vietnam and Singapore should consider the signing of a labour deal and support Vietnam to increase vocational skills for Vietnamese workers, while expanding affiliation in tourism and aviation.

Vietnam is willing to work with Singapore in preparing for the implementation of a Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a deal replacing the former Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Regarding legislative ties between the two sides, the two sides recognised the mutual support at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums.

They agreed that along with closer cooperation among specialised agencies, both sides should foster friendship among parliamentarians.

Ngan told her host that Vietnam has set up a Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Parliamentarian Group.

Tan Chuan-Jin vowed to continue working to forge partnership between the two countries and parliaments.

Following the talks, Singaporean Parliament Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin hosted a banquet for the Vietnamese top legislator.

Later the same day, NA Chairwoman Ngan and the Vietnamese delegation visited the SEA company before leaving for Australia for an official visit at the invitation of the Australian Parliament and Government.-VNA