State, NA leaders host Singapore’s Deputy PM

The Vietnamese State leader highlighted the importance of the visit which he said, has contributed to fostering bilateral political cooperation and creating a firm foundation for heightening bilateral ties. 

President Quang urged the two countries to step up cooperation in reinforcing security, and national defense, combating organized, trans-national crimes, and ensuring cyber security. 

He suggested Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean should focus on enhancing bilateral training and education cooperation, supporting Vietnam in the fight against terrorism and extremism, and tapping the potential of economic agreements.

Quang said he hopes Singaporean investors will get involved in adventure investment funds, share information and exchanges, and increase connections between Vietnamese enterprises and the global market.

Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean in turn expressed his delight at the thriving strategic partnership between Vietnam and Singapore, especially in economy, trade and investment.

The development of the seven VSIPs, including two under construction, illustrates Singapore’s interest in the Vietnamese market, he said, noting that the five active ones have attracted 600 companies from across the world and generated jobs for 170,000 workers.

Singaporean investors are very interested in hi-tech development projects in Vietnam, especially in high added value and highly-applicable industrial sectors, he told his host.

Concerning the cyber security, Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean said his nation has invited the Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security to participate in the Asian conference in October to discuss challenges in the field with ASEAN ministers and extra-bloc partners.

He confirmed the outcomes gained during the recent State visit to Singapore by President Tran Dai Quang demonstrate the growing strategic partnership between the two countries and their determination to lift the bilateral relations to a higher level.

Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean said Singapore pledges to urge the involved parties to implement the DOC and soon reach the signing of the COC as a coordinator of ASEAN-China relations, adding that Singapore supports the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means line with international law.

Meeting with Singaporean Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean the same day, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan urged Vietnam and Singapore to boost their legislative ties, increase exchanges, and establish a Friendship Parliamentarian Group in each country.

The top legislator said she hopes that Singapore will expand its investment in Vietnam and facilitate Vietnamese goods entering Singapore.

Praising Singapore’s stance on the East Sea issue, Ngan expressed her hope that Singapore will bring into play its role as the coordinator for ASEAN-China relationship, especially in regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early signing of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).

She appreciated Singapore’s close coordination in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the United Nations (UN), and hopes the country will continue supporting Vietnam as the host of APEC Summit in 2017.

She also praised the sound cooperative ties between the two parliaments, highlighting the visit to Vietnam by Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Halimah Yacob in April 2015 to attend the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU-132) General Assembly significantly contributed to the success of the event.

Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean underlined the effective cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore in economy,education, defence and security.

He noted that the five active VSIPs have attracted 600 foreign companies and generated jobs for about 170,000 locals.

He expressed his belief that Vietnam’s engagement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement will enable the country to lure more investment and boost deeper global integration.

The Deputy PM agreed with the NA Chairwoman’s proposal on furthering parliamentary ties and recommended the two sides soon establish friendship parliamentarians’ groups in the respective countries to increase experience sharing in legislative work.

Singapore’s deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean agreed on the need to establish the Friendship Parliamentarian Group and hoped for further cooperation between the two legislatures.