President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan in Hanoi on June 21, 2021 (Photo: VNA)Evaluating the achievements in the bilateral relationship, Minister Balakrishnansaid Singapore-Vietnam ties have grown fromstrength to strength since they first established diplomatic relations in 1973.
“Today, we enjoy wide-ranging cooperation in many areas, built on a foundationof mutual friendship and learning. There are three main reasons for this: thehigh level of trust at the political level, our long-standing win-win partnerships, and our strong people-to- people ties,” he said.
He went on: “One, our leaders have built upa high level of political trust and understanding over generations.
“We have frequent bilateral interactions, and meet each other often at regional and multilateral fora. Despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,we have found ways to keep up the momentum of our engagements. Followingthe 13th Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Congress, Prime Minister(PM) Lee Hsien Loong telephoned President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and PM Pham Minh Chinh to congratulate them on their new appointments. The two PMs also met in person in Jakarta on the sidelines of theASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in April 2021.
“In June 2021, I was honoured tobe the first Foreign Minister to visit Vietnam since the 13th PartyCongress, as well as the first Singapore minister to visit Vietnam since theCOVID-19 pandemic began. I had fruitful conversations with Vietnam’s leaders,including my counterpart Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, with whom I haveinteracted regularly since. Keeping up parliament-to- parliament relations, Presidentof the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue met Speaker of the Singapore ParliamentTan Chuan-Jin via videoconference in July 2021. Meanwhile, on the trade andinvestment front, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung andSecond Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng co-chaired the 15th Connectivity Ministerial Meeting in November2021 virtually.
“Singapore and Vietnam share acommon strategic outlook. First, as ASEAN Member States, Singapore andVietnam are firmly committed to regional peace and stability as well as ASEANcentrality. Our interests are better served when ASEAN is strong, independent,and united, and when we cooperate to achieve prosperity and development as a region.In this regard, Singapore appreciates the constructive role that Vietnam has played since joiningASEAN in 1995. This was evident during Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020which established important mechanisms to help our region cope with theCOVID-19 crisis collectively. Second, we are firm supporters of arules-based international order and international law. It is important for both small and medium-sized states to ensure that the “rules of the game” of the international system are adhered to, and that the principle of“might is right” does not prevail.
“Third, we are strongly committed to free trade. Singapore and Vietnamare both members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP). We are also the only two ASEAN countries with a free tradeagreement (FTA) with the European Union.
“Two, given our shared interests, our bilateral agenda is full andpositive. I would like to highlight two areas in particular: our economiclinks, and our long-standing cooperation in human resource development.
“Economic cooperation has been thecornerstone of our bilateral relationship. Singapore companies see Vietnam asan attractive investment destination. Vietnamhas experienced rapid growth and development since it embarked on its Doi Moi programme in 1986. Vietnam hasconsistently enjoyed high GDP growth rates. With its young and hardworkingpopulation of nearly 100 million, Vietnam is well-placed to become a majorengine for growth and economic integration in the region. Vietnam was one ofthe few countries in the world last year to achieve positive economic growthamidst the pandemic. This showcases the resilience of Vietnam’s economy,which is expected to be one of the region’sfastest-growing economies in 2022
“Singapore companies are eager to participate in Vietnam’s growth story. Despite the pandemic, they seeopportunities to diversify and expand their presence in Vietnam. Singapore hasbeen the leading source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam for twoyears running. With cumulative investment of 62.55 billion USD in over 2,600projects in 45 out of 63 provinces inVietnam, Singapore is also the top ASEAN investor in Vietnam, and thirdoverall, after Japan and South Korea. We rank consistently as one of Vietnam’s largest trading partners.
“The Vietnam-Singapore IndustrialParks (VSIPs) are iconic projects in our bilateral relationship. In the 25 years since the first VSIP was established, VSIP’s footprint has grown to ten Industrial Parks in sevenlocalities. Collectively, they have attracted 14 billion USD in investments andcreated over 270,000 jobs in Vietnam. VSIP is also working to stay relevant, byintegrating innovation and sustainable development to accommodate industries ofthe future. As Vietnam develops into a middle-income country, our companiescontinue to look for new opportunities in sectors like e-commerce, logistics,education, food and lifestyle services, and urban solutions.
“Singapore and Vietnam are also longstanding partners in human resourcedevelopment. We share a common belief that this is the key to our sustainabledevelopment and progress. Vietnam remains the top partner of the SingaporeCooperation Programme (SCP) with more than 20,000 Vietnamese officials havingparticipated in our courses since 2002. In 2021, we commemorated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-Singapore Cooperation Centre. Iam especially proud that amid the disruptions posed by the pandemic, ourtraining programmes never wavered. Over the past two years, we have upgradedthe Centre to pivot to delivering courses virtually and conducted 36 onlinecourses for over 600 officials.
“Three, there is strong grassroots support for the relationship andfrequent interaction between our peoples. Over the years, our people haveforged lasting links through educational exchanges and tourism.
“Many Vietnamese are interested in studying in Singapore. Singapore hosts many Vietnamesestudents who have done well in our schools and universities, some of whom havewon scholarships. Singapore educational institutions are likewise keen to havestudy visits and exchange programmes with their Vietnamese counterparts todeepen the knowledge and mutual understanding that our people have for eachother.
“Tourism has also strengthenedour people-to-people links. Vietnam is one of the favourite destinations forSingaporeans. The interest is mutual, as surveys conducted by the SingaporeTourism Board in 2021 showed that Singapore was among the top destinations thatthe Vietnamese most wanted to visit once travel restrictions were lifted.”
Regarding theupcoming visit by President Phuc, the FM said Singapore warmly welcome President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Singapore. “This is the firstState visit that Singapore is hosting since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.It is an opportunity to reaffirm our strong bilateral ties, take stock of ourcooperation and discuss ways to advance our relationship as we work togethertowards a post-pandemic recovery,”he said.
He said: “Singapore looks forward to keeping our partnership forward-looking byexpanding into emerging areas, and partnering Vietnam in the next chapter of its development.
“In 2023, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our bilateral relations, and the 10th anniversary ofour Strategic Partnership.
“Looking ahead, I want tohighlight two areas in particular. First, we need to accelerate ourcooperation in the digital economy. This is a priority for both Singapore and Vietnam, and encompasses many new areas such as cybersecurity,smart cities, innovation, artificial intelligence, and digital payments.COVID-19 has highlighted the crucial role of digital trade and e-commerce inensuring supply chain resilience and business continuity. During my visit toVietnam last year, we agreed to establish a Digital Economy Working Group to identify useful areas of cooperation. I amconfident that the Working Group will serve as a launchpad for many concretecollaborations between our governments, businesses, and other institutions. Second,sustainable development. Like COVID-19, climate change is a global issue thatcan only be tackled through the collective efforts of governments and peopleworldwide. Singapore is keen to work with Vietnam as it increases investmentsin sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy, with the ambitious goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
Asked about the mutual support betweenthe two countries in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, the Singaporean FM said thepandemic has fostered stronger bonds among the two peoples. “The Singaporeancommunity in Vietnam stepped up to contribute to Vietnam’s efforts to fight itsfourth COVID-19 wave last year. On the government-to-government level, wesupported each other with critical medical supplies and equipment at keyjunctures in our fight against the pandemic. We also supported the return ofour nationals living in each other’s countries, and ensured their access tovaccines and healthcare. As both sides learn to live with COVID-19, we hope totake the next step by resuming safe travel between our countries.
“During my visit to Vietnam inJune 2021, we agreed to establish a bilateral working group on COVID-19 publichealth and border measures to facilitate knowledge sharing on COVID-19management and the eventual resumption of business and personal travel betweenour countries. Singapore is honoured to be in the first group of countries withwhich Vietnam resumed international commercial flights this year. Similarly, wewelcome Vietnam’s plans to remove travel restrictions by mid-March this year,”he said./.
VNA
