Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien-Loongon April 20 affirmed that Singapore gives high priority to relations withVietnam during his talk on the phone with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham MinhChinh.
Calling Chinh to congratulate him over his election as PrimeMinister of Vietnam, Lee also appreciated Vietnam’s success in responding tothe COVID-19 pandemic and in socio-economic development as well as externalrelations.
In reply, PM Chinh said he hopes to work closely with the SingaporeanPM to further promote the strategic partnership between the two countriesacross the fields.
The two governmentleaders rejoiced at the positive developments in bilateral cooperation despitethe difficulties brought by COVID-19. They noted that Singapore was the biggestinvestor in Vietnam in 2020 and the first quarter of 2021.
They agreed to bolsterjoint work in fields of the countries’ potential and strength, such as finance,information technology, agro-fisheries, education-training, and infrastructure,while seeking to expand cooperation in areas related to the Fourth IndustrialRevolution like clean energy, smart city, innovation, digital economy, as wellas the sharing of experience in management, economic development, and humanresources training.
The two sidesconsented to boost cooperation in responding to COVID-19 and facilitating therepatriation of each other’s citizens, and accelerate negotiations on travelpreferential regulations between the two countries toward resuming safe commercialflights that suit the situation in each country and in the region so as topromote bilateral trade, investment and tourism ties.
PM Chinhappreciated the close and effective cooperation between Vietnam and Singaporeat regional and international forums, and thanked Singapore for supportingVietnam as Chair of ASEAN in 2020. He asked Singapore to continue backing Vietnamin its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2021.
The two PMs affirmedtheir resolve to make active contribution to building a strong, united andresilient ASEAN Community with a central role and common voice in regional andinternational peace and security issues.
PM Chinh invited theSingaporean PM to visit Vietnam at a suitable time. PM Lee Hsien Loong acceptedthe invitation and expressed his wish to welcome the Vietnamese PM toSingapore./.
