Officials: VN, Singapore share numerous strategic interests

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh (L) and Singaporean FM Vivian Balakrishnan.

DPM to pay official visit to Singapore next week

The agreement was reached between Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Singaporean FM Vivian Balakrishnan during their talks on Tuesday.

The two countries vowed to strengthen coordination in full and effective deployment of their high-level agreements, especially those reached on the occasion of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to Singapore last April.

Both sides also agreed to foster exchange of delegations, consultations and experience sharing in policy making in order to maintain the robust momentum of the bilateral ties.

As the two countries are signatories of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), known as TPP-11, potential for higher trade level still remains vast, according to the two officials.

Deputy PM, FM Minh spoke highly of Singapore as one of the top investor and trade partner of Viet Nam. Singapore has pledged to pour US$43 billion in over 2000 projects and built 9 industrial parks in Viet Nam.

The pair agreed that both sides should step up cooperation in education and training, labor, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges as well as coordination at regional and international forums, particularly within ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Deputy  PM, FM Minh said Viet Nam highly valued the role played by Singapore as the ASEAN Chair in 2018, affirming Viet Nam’s support and collaboration with Singapore to realize the set goals and priorities.

Regarding the East Sea issue, both sides agreed ASEAN needs to firmly maintain its common stance and principles as agreed and fully include them in the documents of the bloc’s meetings.

The officials also called for full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), including trust building measures and regulations on exercising self-restraint and relevant parties must avoid actions that may complicate the situation or intensify dispute.

Deputy PM, FM Minh appreciated Singapore’s efforts in accelerating talks on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

On the occasion, Deputy PM, FM Minh and Singaporean FM Vivian signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on operational principles of the Viet Nam-Singapore Cooperation Center.

Under the MoU, the current Viet Nam-Singapore Training Center will be upgraded into the Viet Nam-Singapore Cooperation Center with broader scope of activities, ranging from short term courses for public sectors to urban development and planning, development consultancy, technical and vocational training, cyber security, and local-level community development projects.

The same day, Deputy PM, FM Minh also called on Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and PM Lee Hsien Loong./.

By Quang Minh