Vietnam, Singapore look to foster all-around relations

The point of view was shared by Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue and visiting Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin during their talks in Hanoi on May 18.

The talks was held following an official welcome ceremony for the Singaporean parliamentary leader and his wife, hosted by NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue at the NA House the same day.

Chairman Hue thanked the Singaporean parliamentary leader for his interest in the 31st SEA Games, considering the participation of Tan Chuan-Jin in the opening ceremony of the regional sporting event as a great source of encouragement for Vietnam.

The top Vietnamese legislator congratulated the island city-state for successfully containing the COVID-19 pandemic and reopening the economy. He was also appreciative of its provision of COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies for Vietnam and said he hopes both sides will go ahead with closer cooperation in scientific research on COVID-19 and other epidemics.

Vietnam places great importance on both nations’ strategic partnership and regards Singapore as one of its leading partners in ASEAN in terms of both politics and economy, Hue emphasized, while asking both sides to coordinate closely to prepare for the 50th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership in 2023.

Tan Chuan-Jin highlighted his official visit to Vietnam as a good opportunity for the two countries to strengthen their sound relations in the time ahead.

Speaker Tan, thanked Vietnam for supporting his nation in COVID-19 response, noting the two countries’ cooperation and mutual assistance are growing even more strongly.

During the talks, the two leaders agreed that the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two legislative bodies will contribute to further fostering the relationship between the two countries based on a variety of appropriate forms at all levels.

They shared experience in institutional building, fine-tuning the legal system, thereby contributing to the connection and development of the digital economy and digital society, and continuing to promote the coordination mechanism at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and other multilateral organizations.

The two sides consented to support each other's stance on regional and international issues of mutual concern, noting that the signing of the cooperation agreement will contribute to further tightening the cooperative relationship between the two legislatures.

Singapore is a leading investor in Vietnam, and the Vietnamese NA and Government always welcome foreign investors, including those from Singapore, and pledge to keep reforming and revamping policies and laws, while helping address obstacles to Singaporean projects in the country, Hue told his guest.

Suggesting the two sides continue sharing experience in developing a digital economy, a green economy, and renewable energy, the Vietnamese NA leader expressed his hope for stronger cooperation to connect Vietnamese cities with Singapore to exchange experience in green and sustainable development.

Chairman Hue asked Tan help connect Vietnamese and Singaporean businesses in agriculture, especially hi-tech farming, and promote the city state’s import of high-value products from Vietnam.
He called on the two countries to focus on a cooperation model in which products are invented in Singapore and produced in Vietnam, effectively bolster cooperation in defence, personnel training, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and crime fight.

The host leader proposed the two law-making bodies back the negotiation and signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in cyber security and some other important documents on mutual legal assistance and transnational crime combat.

Hue said he hopes that the island city-state will enhance its role in the region, help with connectivity enhancement and community building in ASEAN, maintain the bloc’s centrality, and coordinate ASEAN’s common stance on regional issues.
He called on his Singaporean counterpart to continue advocating ASEAN’s common stance on safeguarding peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the East Sea, and peacefully resolving disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Vietnamese NA leader thanked Singapore for backing Vietnam’s candidacy for membership in the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for 2023 - 2028, asking it to support Vietnam to run for a seat in the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority for 2023 - 2027.

Agreeing with his host’s proposals, Tan said the two countries boast strong economic ties, and Singaporean firms’ enormous trust in Vietnam remains unchanged and is still increasing.
He shared the view that the countries can work together more closely in boosting digital transformation, green economy, and sustainable development.

Singapore supports its enterprises to seek investment and business opportunities in multiple localities of Vietnam, he noted, adding that the success in economic relations will create not only value in terms of the money flow but also people-to-people connectivity, friendship, and amity between the two countries.

Showing support for his guest’s opinions, Chairman Hue affirmed that their countries still have much room for reinforcing all-round cooperation, in which the collaboration in law and policy making is highly important. The two parliaments have sufficient conditions and need to cement their ties so as to actively and effectively contribute to the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership.

The Singaporean Speaker affirmed his nation’s support for its businesses to cooperate and seek investment and business opportunities in many localities of Vietnam.

He shared the view that the two countries can work hand in hand in accelerating digital transformation, green economy, and sustainable development.

Chairman Hue affirmed that Vietnam and Singapore have plenty of room for ramping up all-round cooperation, in which the collaboration in law and policy making is highly important. The two parliaments have sufficient conditions and need to solidify their ties so as to make effective contributions to the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership.

Following the talks, the parliamentary leaders signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the two legislative bodies.

Earlier on the evening of May 12, before the opening ceremony of the SEA Games  31 held at My Dinh National Stadium, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin who is the highest-ranking official in Southeast Asian countries to attend the opening ceremony of the regional sporting even in the host country.