Vietnamese, Singaporean PMs Hold First Talks, Pledge To Strengthen Ties

VIENTIANE, Oct 10 (Bernama-VNA) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Singaporean counterpart, Lawrence Wong held their first talks on Wednesday during the annual meeting of government leaders, on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

Chinh thanked Singapore for its assistance to Vietnam in overcoming the impact of Typhoon Yagi, calling it a clear demonstration of the Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Partnership and the strong ties between the two nations, during the talks in Vientiane, Laos.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the unprecedented growth in bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to elevating their relationship to new heights, emphasising that economic cooperation remains a key pillar.

They agreed to effectively implement the Framework Agreement on connecting the two economies and advance the Vietnam-Singapore green-digital economy partnership, focusing on telecommunications infrastructure, smart and sustainable VSIP 2.0 systems, and clean energy development.

The leaders also stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in other key areas, including defence, security, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Chinh assured Singaporean businesses of favourable conditions for expanding investment in Vietnam, particularly in high-tech sectors, digital economy, innovation, semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI).

He also called for Singapore's support in establishing a national innovation centre for data science and cooperation in food production, supply chains, and aquaculture.

As Vietnam was Singapore's largest rice supplier in the first half of the year, Wong welcomed deeper cooperation in agriculture and food security and expressed Singapore's willingness to import more fruits, food, and seafood from Vietnam.

Wong, in a post on his official Facebook account on Thursday, said, “I had our first Annual Leaders' Meeting with PM Pham Minh Chinh. The upcoming upgrade of Singapore-Vietnam relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will mark a new milestone in our cooperation.”

Wong also pledged Singapore's support in enhancing Vietnam's workforce quality, especially at the strategic level, and to continue offering scholarships.

He highlighted the need to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Innovation Talent Exchange Programme.

On regional matters, the leaders agreed on strengthening ASEAN solidarity and promoting the sustainable development of sub-regions, including the Mekong sub-region, contributing to a resilient and prosperous ASEAN.

Both reaffirmed their determination to ensure the East Sea remains a region of peace, cooperation, and development, and to accelerate negotiations on an effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea, in line with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS.

Chinh invited Wong and his spouse for an official visit to Vietnam in 2025, which Wong gladly accepted.

-- BERNAMA-VNA