A Foreign Ministry delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh conducted the 8th political consultation and fourth exchange with the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs from July 10-11.

At the 8th political consultative, the two sides reviewed their strategic partnership over the past year, proposing measures to develop bilateral relations in a practical and effective manner.

The two sides consented to boost high-level visits between NA and Party delegations and cross-cultural exchanges and work closely on preparations for the upcoming visit to Vietnam by former Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong slated for September.

In terms of economics, they hailed the outcome of the 10th Ministerial Conference on the connectivity of the two economies held in Singapore in June focusing on six areas- finance, information-communication, education-training, transport, investment, trade and service.

Deputy Minister Vinh asked Singapore to intensify investment and business operations in Vietnam, particularly in logistics, managing international transshipment ports and developing world-class entertainment tourist complexes associated with financial centres and good infrastructure.

Singapore agreed to hold a roundtable discussion on Phu Quoc Island in the country soon.

The two sides appreciated a plan to open a Phu Quoc – Singapore direct route in the near future. Singapore affirmed Vietnam is considered an important economic partner and will encourage Singaporean firms as well as foreign companies operating in Singapore to expand investment and business activities in Vietnam.

They agreed to further promote bilateral cooperation in defense, security  and other fields which were specified in the strategic partnership.

Both sides will enhance educational cooperation in which Singapore will continue providing scholarships, short-term training courses and capacity building courses for Vietnamese cadres. They also concurred to step up tourism cooperation, especially cruise tourism and fix time for the organization of the 13th Vietnam-Singapore Tourism Cooperation Joint Committee.

They also compared notes on international issues of common concern and underlined the need to reinforce solidarity and enhance the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in regional cooperation and shaping a regional structure.

ASEAN needs to show a common voice and its responsibility for important regional issues including the East Sea issue for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, they said.

The two sides expressed deep concern about the current complex situation in the East Sea and reiterated the importance of strictly complying with international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS ) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed by ASEAN and China including the implementation of principles on exercising restraint, avoiding complicating the situation, resolving disputes by peaceful means, not using or threatening to use force and making efforts to achieve a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). On this basis, they highlighted the positive role of the regional grouping in ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

The two sides expressed satisfaction with the close-knit relationship and fruitful cooperation between the two foreign ministries, affirming their determination to maintain annual political consultation mechanisms, adding that the ninth political consultation is scheduled to be held in Vietnam next year.

While in Singapore, Deputy Minister Pham Quang Vinh paid a courtesy visit to Foreign Minister K Shanmugam and held talks with Singaporean Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Chee Wee Kiong.

Minister Shanmugam said he highly appreciated the strong development of relations between the two countries and spoke highly of the significance of the strategic partnership established during the visit to Vietnam by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in September 2013.

Shanmugam suggested both sides should closely cooperate to further deepen effective cooperation and consolidate mutual trust by strengthening high-level exchange visits, properly carrying out cooperative areas, especially in economics within the framework agreement on economic connectivity.

He hailed the Vietnamese Government’s efforts and comprehensive measures to ensure a safe and favourable investment environment for foreign investors, affirming that Vietnam is always an important and reliable partner of Singapore, both in bilateral and regional cooperation.