Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Singapore and Indonesia on July 24 on the sidelines of the 49 th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Minh and Singaporean FM Vivian Balakrisnan both expressed pleasure at the development of the two countries’ strategic partnership, sharing the belief that the upcoming State-level visit of President Tran Dai Quang to Singapore will help lift bilateral ties to a higher level.

They agreed to coordinate closely to make preparations for the important visit.

FM Vivian Balakrisnan affirmed that Singapore wants to enhance its partnership with Vietnam in developing innovation economics, enhancing economic connectivity and promoting digital economy.

The two sides agreed to continue with long-term economic cooperative projects while hailing the importance of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) scheme. They added that the VSIP plan should give priority to new technology and connectivity with startup projects. The Singaporean side said the country’s government officials will attend the celebration of VSIP Binh Duong’s 20 th anniversary on August 7 and 8.

Vietnam and Singapore vowed to continue coordinating within the ASEAN framework and at regional and international forums, as well as to strengthen ASEAN solidarity and maintain the bloc’s central role in the region so as to ensure peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

In another meeting, Deputy PM Minh and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi agreed to push forward with measures to improve the effectiveness of bilateral relations, increase mutual visits and enhance the efficiency of cooperative mechanisms.

They saw eye to eye on the need to promote marine cooperation; accordingly the two sides will accelerate their negotiations on delimiting the exclusive economic zones.

The two sides also agree to maintain close coordination in ASEAN cooperative mechanisms and at regional and international forums.

VNA