Former Prime Minister and Emeritus Senior Minister of Singapore, Goh Chok Tong, concluded his visit to the capital city of Hanoi on September 24, during which a stronger Vietnamese-Singaporean strategic partnership was formed.

The four-day visit, made at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, aimed to boost the bilateral ties between the two countries.

During his visit, the Senior Minister met with Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi.

The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation on finance and tourism.

Singapore is willing to share its expertise and support Vietnam to develop its banking system, to access loans to upgrade infrastructure and to increase the quality of human resources.

Vietnam will implement a series of measures to facilitate Singaporean investors to do businesses in a stable market.

During his time in the North, the Singaporean Senior Minister visited the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in the northern province of Bac Ninh, a symbol of the friendship and economic links between Vietnam and Singapore.

He also attended an inauguration ceremony for Singaporean small and medium-sized enterprises at the national stadium in My Dinh.

Goh Chok Tong is visiting Ho Chi Minh City next, where he will be hosted by Le Thanh Hai, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Party Committee, and Le Hoang Quan, Chairman of the City’s People’s Committee. Whilst there, he will also meet with Singaporean businesses.

Former Singapore PM suggests stronger ties with VN

Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has said the strategic partnership between Singapore and Vietnam is developing well and both economies can support each other by fully tapping their potential.

Meeting with State President Truong Tan Sang in Hanoi on September 24, Goh, who is also Emeritus Senior Minister of Singapore, pointed out the two countries’ major advantages, saying Vietnam’s strength lies in its agriculture and abundant human resources, while Singapore is a big financial and transhipment hub globally.

In addition, he said Singapore is a key tourism market that receives approximately 16 million travellers a year, offering the two countries a chance to develop tourism and aviation services.

Singapore is willing to share experience and assist Vietnam in developing the banking system, accessing loans for infrastructure upgrade, and improving the quality of human resources, Goh assured his host.

He showed his confidence in Vietnam’s further growth, which he said will make a remarkable contribution to the building of the ASEAN Economic Community.

President Sang in turn highlighted Vietnam’s international integration efforts and appreciated Goh’s proposals, saying they are suitable for Vietnam’s situation given the current context.

The Vietnamese State leader suggested both countries maintain regular visit exchange and deepen their strategic partnership in a more practical and effective manner.

Receiving former PM Goh later the same day, Politburo Member Pham Quang Nghi, Secretary of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee, said Vietnam and Hanoi capital in particular create favourable conditions for Singapore’s diplomatic agencies, companies and citizens to operate and work in the capital city.

Nghi emphasised that Singapore is one of the leading investors and trade partners of Vietnam. Its direct investment and technical assistance are a valuable source for Vietnam to boost economic development.

He hailed the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) model that ha numbered five at present, generating jobs for local people and contributing considerably to regional economic development.

The Hanoi Party leader called on the Singaporean government to encourage its businesses to invest more in Vietnam, especially in high-tech agriculture, infrastructure, financial centres, and seaports.

He also asked Singapore to maintain scholarships for Vietnamese students and help Vietnam increase English language skills for local officials and vocational training for local workers.

For his part, Goh Chok Tong praised Vietnam’s business climate and affirmed Singapore supports its companies in doing business in Vietnam to help the country acquire advanced technology, improve managerial skills, and enhance finance management capacity.

He also suggested Vietnam should renew its legal system to attract more investors.