Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong met with Khaw Boon Wan, Chairman of the People’s Action Party (PAP) and Minister for National Development of Singapore on September 13.

The leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of attaching importance to strengthening and expanding the friendship relations with Singapore, in terms of both bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The CPV advocates to develop and consolidate the relations with ruling parties and other parties on the basis of ensuring national interests, defending independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, including attaching importance to enhancing ties with the PAP, Mr Trong said.

He also informed his host of the outcomes of talks and meetings with Singaporean leaders, during which the two sides agreed to lift the two countries’ relations to a strategic partnership level in 2013. This will play an important part in elevating the two nations’ ties to a new height, which will be practical and effective intensively and extensively.

Mr Trong also expressed his pleasure at the recent developments of Singapore, saying that the country’s successes have closely associated with the leadership and progress of the PAP.

Chairman Khaw Boon Wan welcomed Mr Trong’s visit to Singapore and congratulated Vietnam’s achievements during its renewal process under the leadership of the CPV.

Both host and guest are pleased to see the fine developments of the friendship relations and cooperation between the two countries and Parties in all fields.

They stressed that in the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership, the sound cooperation between the CPV and PAP will also be lifted to the strategic partnership level.

General Secretary Trong thanked Singapore for training CPV officials and spoke highly of the cooperation agreement on research and training programmes for high-ranking CPV officials.

He also took this occasion to invite Chairman Khaw Boon Wan to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.

On the afternoon of the same day, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his entourage visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met with the Vietnamese community in Singapore.

Vietnam, Singapore to set up strategic partnership

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have agreed to elevate the Vietnam-Singapore relationship to the status of strategic partnership.



During talks on September 12, both leaders asked their relevant agencies to soon complete contents for the signing of the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership agreement in 2013 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic ties.

Both host and guest stressed the need to bring into full play the Vietnam – Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement, propose new areas of cooperation, and carry out more iconic projects like the Vietnam – Singapore industrial parks.

They also agreed to broaden cooperation in education and training, science and technology, tourism, national defence and security, among others.

They shared the view that 45 years after its establishment, ASEAN has kept growing and enjoyed deeper connectivity within the bloc, and with foreign countries and major political and economic centres worldwide.

In the face of major difficulties and challenges, ASEAN member countries need to continue boosting solidarity and cooperation, to maintain its central role in the evolving regional structure, and to successfully build an united and strong ASEAN community by 2015, they said.

The two leaders expressed concerns on recent complication in the East Sea and their wish that the disputes should be settled by peaceful means on the basis of the international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards the Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea. They also agreed to intensify cooperation at regional and international forums.

Mr Lee, who is also Secretary General of the People’s Action Party (PAP) of Singapore, said he believes that the Vietnamese people will record greater achievements in the country’s industrialisation and modernisation.

Mr Trong reaffirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to fostering the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with regional countries, including Singapore.

He said Vietnam will create favourable conditions for Singaporean investors and be ready to expand cooperation and investment in the fields of Singapore’s strength.

Highlighting the role of PAP in national construction and development, the Vietnamese Party leader affirmed that the fine relationship of the two ruling parties is an important political basis for further promoting the development of the two countries’ relations.

Mr Trong thanked Singapore for its support to Vietnam’s candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term and the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

After the talks, the two sides issued a join press statement, which said both leaders agreed on the importance of achieving peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, as well as improving connectivity between Southeast Asia and the rest of the world.

Later, the two leaders witnessed the signing of three cooperation documents, including a Memorandum of Understanding on finance cooperation, the second amended protocol on double taxation avoidance and an agreement on research and training programmes for high-ranking officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

VNN/VOV/VNA