Speaking at the talks, PM Lee affirmed that the visit will create a strong impetus for the fine strategic partnership between the two countries and is an important opening event for the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the partnership this year.

Congratulating Vietnam on its effective socio-economic recovery and development post COVID-19, he stressed Singapore always treasures and hopes to further strengthen its strategic partnership with Vietnam.

The two PMs spoke highly of the positive developments of the bilateral relations in both bilateral and multilateral aspects.

Singapore leads the ASEAN and ranks second in the world in terms of investment in Vietnam with 3,095 projects totalling 70.8 billion USD, accounting for 22.9% of the total foreign capital attracted by Vietnam. The Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) are maintaining effective operation, and have been a symbol of success in investment cooperation.

The two leaders agreed to intensify political trust; maintain exchanges and contacts at all levels and through all channels; promote economic cooperation; effectively implement cooperation agreements, including the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of the Vietnam - Singapore partnership on digital economy and green economy signed on this occasion; and create favourable conditions for the implementation of cooperation in new and potential fields such as digital, green and circular economies, innovation, clean energy, and climate change response.

They also reached consensus on stepping up cooperation in defence-security, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

PM Chinh proposed Singapore consider the possibility of signing a labour cooperation agreement between the two countries; increase the import of agricultural and aquatic products, and garment and textiles from Vietnam; and facilitate the selling of Vietnamese goods in the distribution system in Singapore.

With a stable political system and an increasingly improved investment environment, Vietnam welcomes and creates favourable conditions for Singaporean businesses to expand their investment in the country, especially in digital transformation, green energy, science and technology, and innovation, Chinh added.

The Singaporean leader thanked Vietnam for approving the investment of VSIP Nghe An II, and showed support for his Vietnamese counterpart's proposal on opening more parks. He also emphasised his backing for collaboration in clean energy, and electricity connection, transmission and electricity trading.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese leader asked Singapore to increase support for Vietnam to develop and improve the quality of human resources, and carry out the Vocational Education Development Strategy in the 2021-2030 period.

On this occasion, he proposed the Singaporean Government continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country, and cement the bilateral relations on the basis of cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Regarding regional and international issues, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation, maintain solidarity and unity, and promote ASEAN centrality, especially in strategic issues such as peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.

Chinh invited his Singaporean counterpart to pay an official visit to Vietnam in 2023. The latter accepted the invitation.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing and hand-over of cooperation documents, including the MoU on the establishment of the Vietnam - Singapore partnership on digital economy and green economy; another on a cooperation plan in economics and trade between the two Ministries of Industry and Trade; the one on youth cooperation between the National Committee on Youth of Vietnam and the National Youth Council of Singapore; and an MoU on maritime cooperation between the Vietnam Maritime Administration and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Prime Minister meets Singaporean President

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his delight at visiting Singapore in his capacity as the Vietnamese Government leader for the first time, during a meeting with President of Singapore Halimah Yacob on February 9 morning.

Yacob hailed the significance of Chinh’s visit as marking the start of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year, contributing to the strong and substantial development of their relationship.

Expressing their satisfaction at the dynamic development of the Vietnam-Singapore ties in various areas, the two leaders agreed to deepen pillars of cooperation, especially in politics, economy, national defence-security, education and hi-quality training, people-to-people exchange, tourism, maritime connectivity initiatives, as well as new fields in the fourth industrial revolution.

The host spoke highly of the operation of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) in Vietnam and thanked the Vietnamese Government for facilitating Singaporean firms to do business in the country.

Recalling her impression on visiting VSIP Bac Ninh last October, she affirmed that it is a successful model of bilateral collaboration.

Chinh vowed to encourage Singaporean enterprises to develop VSIPs in a green, smart and energy-friendly manner, and to open more VSIPs in localities in outlying areas to improve the even development of regions.

He suggested both sides soon sign a bilateral labour cooperation agreement.

Host and guest also pledged to enhance cooperation at multilateral forums such as the ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the United Nations while continuing to build a stable, united and strong ASEAN Community.

They agreed to cooperate so as to ensure ASEAN’s central role and common stance on regional and global issues, including the East Sea issue, as well as fully abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), toward reaching a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./VNA