This is the first State visit by a foreign head of State to Vietnam since the 13th National Party Congress, and also the first trip overseas by the President of Singapore since the COVID-19 broke out.

The visit takes place when the two countries are looking toward the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship and the 10th year of their strategic partnership in 2023.

During the visit from October 16-20, President Halimah Yacob is scheduled to pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, hold talks with President Phuc, and pay courtesy visits to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.  

She will also receive the Secretary of the Party Committee of Hanoi, visit the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park I (VSIP I), hold a working session with Bac Ninh leaders and engage in some activities in Ho Chi Minh City.  

The State visit by the Singaporean President is expected to contribute to strengthening political trust and promoting cooperation in all aspects between the two countries.

Singaporean President’s visit to further intensify strategic partnership with Vietnam: ambassador

The State visit to Vietnam from October 16 to 20 by Singaporean President Halimah Yacob aims to elevate bilateral relations and further intensify the strategic partnership between the two countries, according to Vietnamese Ambassador Mai Phuoc Dung.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit, the diplomat said the visit of the Singaporean State leader is a reciprocal of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's trip to Singapore in late February 2022, and will further solidify the strategic partnership set up nine years ago and carry out the countries’ agreements.

He noted since Vietnam reopened borders on March 15 and Singapore on April 1 after the COVID-19 pandemic had been brought under control, they have recorded a large number of people travelling between the two countries. There are about 20 flights connecting Singapore with big cities of Vietnam each day, along with a new air route linking the city state with Nha Trang, carrying about 3,000 - 4,000 passengers.

Vietnam and Singapore have organised many mutual visits at all levels during which they not only shared experience in policy making and implementation but also held investment forums and business dialogues to exchange information, seek partnerships, and devise solutions to obstacles to enterprises’ cooperation, Dung noted.

Those visits have strengthened political ties and fostered bilateral trade and investment, helping Singapore continually be the largest foreign investor in Vietnam and fuel trade growth.

By the end of August 2022, Singapore had invested over 4.5 billion USD in Vietnam. Bilateral trade turnover had reached some 15 billion USD, rising nearly 25% from the same period of 2021, he added.

Aside from traditional cooperation areas, they have also worked together to develop infrastructure, build industrial parks, and train human resources, the diplomat went on, saying that in President Phuc’s State visit last February, they also agreed to promote digital cooperation.

During President Halimah Yacob’s visit, the two countries will expand their collaboration to renewable energy.

Ambassador Dung expressed his hope that the agreements on energy cooperation to be signed during the trip will give a new impulse for bilateral ties since Vietnam holds much potential for renewable energy while Singapore has big demand for this type of energy.

A stronger energy partnership will open up a new opportunity helping reinforce the two countries’ cooperation, he added.

Source: VNA