Bilahari Kausikan paid a courtesy visit to Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who expressed his delight at the fine development of the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore.

Minh also spoke highly of the regular exchange of visits by the two countries’ senior officials, which he said helps enhance bilateral ties and mutual trust. 

Bilahari Kausikan agreed that the two countries should continue to strengthen cooperation in such areas as politics, economics, culture and education with a view to bringing Vietnam-Singapore relations to a new level for mutual benefit as well as for the common development of ASEAN. 

Singapore will work closely with Vietnam to organise practical and significant activities to mark the 40^th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2013, he said. 

The two sides pledged to increase cooperation at regional and international forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). 

They also vowed to consolidate the solidarity and central role of ASEAN towards the building of the ASEAN Community in 2015 as well as to coordinate with other ASEAN countries and China in implementing the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and drafting a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). 

On August 22, the Singaporean diplomat will have a working session with Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh.