Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bilahari Kausikan began a two-day visit to Vietnam on August 21.

Bilahari Kausikan paid a courtesy visit to Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who expressed his delight at the fine development of the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore.

Minh also spoke highly of the regular exchange of visits by the two countries’ senior officials, which he said helps enhance bilateral ties and mutual trust.

Bilahari Kausikan agreed that the two countries should continue to strengthen cooperation in such areas as politics, economics, culture and education with a view to bringing Vietnam-Singapore relations to a new level for mutual benefit as well as for the common development of ASEAN.

Singapore will work closely with Vietnam to organise practical and significant activities to mark the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2013, he said.

The two sides pledged to increase cooperation at regional and international forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

They also vowed to consolidate the solidarity and central role of ASEAN towards the building of the ASEAN Community in 2015 as well as to coordinate with other ASEAN countries and China in implementing the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and drafting a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

On August 22, the Singaporean diplomat will have a working session with Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh.

Vietnam, Singapore Air Forces strengthen cooperation

Deputy Minister of Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty hosted a reception for visiting Singapore’s Chief of Air Force Ng Chee Meng in Hanoi on August 21.

Speaking at the reception, Ty, who is also Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, affirmed that Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence supports the contents discussed in the previous meeting between Major General Ng Chee Meng and Chief of the Vietnam’s Air Defence and Air Force, Lieutenant General Phuong Minh Hoa.

These discussions included the exchange of delegations between the two Air Forces, promoting exchanges among young officers, cooperation in personnel training, and information sharing and experiences on rescue activities at sea, personnel training and other issues of mutual concern.

Ty expressed his belief that the visit will contribute to boosting the cooperation between the two armies in general as well as the two air forces in particular.

VNN/VOV/VNA