Deepening the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Singapore

Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin’s visit to Vietnam from May 18-20 at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue aims to deepen the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership, including the relationship between the two legislative bodies.

Deepening the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Singapore

The visit comes at a time when the strategic partnership between the two countries is becoming more deep and substantive on both the bilateral and multilateral basis. The two countries are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership in 2023.

In recent time, despite COVID-19, the two sides have still made frequent delegation exchanges and held meetings at all levels directly and virtually. In July 2021, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had an online talk with Singaporean Parliament Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin. The two leaders agreed to continue promoting the role of the two countries’ legislative bodies in fostering bilateral ties; enhancing cooperation and experience sharing in building institutions and perfecting the legal system for the development of the digital economy and digital society; and sharing experience in issuing policies to promptly support the government in fighting the pandemic and fostering post-pandemic recovery. The two sides agreed to continue promoting close collaboration at multilateral forums such as AIPA, IPU, APPF and other multilateral parliamentary organisations while supporting each other’s position on regional and international matters of shared concern.

The Vietnam-Singapore relationship is currently in the period of great development. Cooperation between the two parliaments has been stepped up. The Vietnam-ASEAN Friendship Parliamentarian Group was established as a bridge to enhance exchange between Vietnamese National Assembly deputies and parliamentarians of ASEAN countries, including those of Singapore, as well as helping to enhance cooperation between the two parliaments and people-to-people exchange. In addition, bilateral cooperation mechanisms are also maintained, helping to promote the development momentum of bilateral relations.

Economic cooperation plays an important role in Vietnam-Singapore relations. With their complementary strengths, economic cooperation between the two countries has recorded many positive results, regarded as a bright spot in the region. Despite the impacts of COVID-19, bilateral trade still reached 8.3 billion USD in 2021, up 23.3% from the previous year. Singapore is currently ASEAN’s largest foreign investor in Vietnam and ranks second among all countries and territories with investment in Vietnam. Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) have become a symbol of successful cooperation between the two countries, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and making active contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development. The two sides are working to develop VSIPs into green, high-tech and innovative industrial parks.

Cooperation in defence-security, culture, education and training between Vietnam and Singapore is growing in a positive manner. The two countries have worked closely in fighting COVID-19 and supported each other with medical supplies. People-to-people exchange between Vietnam and Singapore has also been promoted, helping to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries.

On multilateral cooperation, Vietnam and Singapore collaborate closely and actively support each other at regional and international organisations and forums, especially within the ASEAN framework and ASEAN-led mechanisms. Both countries are members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and have free trade agreements with the European Union. The effective utilisation of such agreements will make substantive contributions to the post-pandemic economic recovery and development of the two countries and the region at large.

May the visit of Singaporean Parliament Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin be a great success, helping to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries while contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.