Q: Could you please elaborate on the significance of this official visit to Singapore and Japan by NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man, his spouse, and the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese NA?
A: Singapore is one of Vietnam's leading partners in the region. Over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations (1973-2024) and 10 years of strategic partnership (2013-2024), Vietnam-Singapore relations have continuously developed, achieving significant milestones across all sectors and through various channels, including Party, National Assembly, Government, and people-to-people exchanges.
Qualitative developments
Vietnam and Japan have agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership at the right time.
It’s said that the Vietnam-Japan relationship is a typical pair of relations for the success of Vietnam's bilateral cooperation with its partners.
Japan maintains its position as Vietnam's leading economic partner, the largest ODA partner, the second largest partner in labour cooperation, the third largest in investment and tourism, and the fourth largest in trade.
The relationship between the two countries has made significant progress recently and is currently in its best phase, with a high level of political trust. The exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, takes place frequently and closely across all channels of the Party, State, and NA. Economic cooperation has become increasingly tight-knit and deepened.
Local cooperation, cultural exchanges, people-to-people exchanges, and human resource collaboration have become increasingly close and effective. The two countries have recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and upgraded their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World (in 2023).
In this context, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s visit to Singapore and Japan holds special significance in realising Vietnam's foreign policy line to promote parliamentary cooperation between our NA and the parliaments of Singapore and Japan in a substantive and sustainable manner. This will contribute to advancing the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership, concretising the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan, and strengthening the friendly, effective, and substantive cooperation between Vietnam, Singapore, and Japan across all fields.
Q: Could you please share the main activities planned for the NA Chairman during this official visit to Singapore and Japan?
A: During the visit to Singapore, the NA Chairman will hold talks and meetings with all of Singapore's top leaders: Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam; receive with leading Singaporean corporations investing and doing business in Vietnam; engage with the Vietnamese community; and visit and speak with staff members of the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore.
Elevating the relationship between legislative bodies to a new level.
In Japan, the NA leader will hold talks with Chairperson of the House of Councillors Sekiguchi Masakazu and Speaker for the House of Representatives Nugaka Fukuhiro; meet with Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru; greet the Emperor and Empress; and on behalf of the Party and State leadership, present the Vietnamese President’ orders to several former Japanese leaders.
In addition, the NA Chairman will meet with the leaders of the Japan - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, leaders of major political parties in Japan, the Japan Federation of Economic Organisations, the Foreign Exchange Council (FEC), several former leaders and respected politicians who have contributed to the relations between the two countries, leaders of major Japanese corporations and businesses, as well as governors of localities with close ties to Vietnam. The Chairman will also meet with staff from the Vietnamese Embassy in Tokyo, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan.
During this visit, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Chairperson of the House of Councillors Sekiguchi Masakazu Sekiguchi Masakazu will sign a cooperation agreement between the NA of Vietnam and the House of Councillors of Japan. In my opinion, this is a crucial foundation promoting the relationship between the two legislative bodies to a new level in the coming years.
Parliamentary cooperation is an important channel
Q: Through the visit of NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the high-level delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly, how will parliamentary cooperation between Vietnam, Singapore and Japan, as well as cooperation between our localities and those of the respective countries, be promoted?
A: Parliamentary cooperation is an important channel in the overall partnership and cooperation of Vietnam with Singapore and Japan.
In recent years, the cooperation between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Parliament of Singapore, as well as the House of Councillors, has developed very positively in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
I believe that with the planned programme and set objectives, the visit of the NA Chairman will contribute to further promoting and deepening the cooperative relationship between the three legislative bodies. This will be achieved through strengthening delegation exchanges, implementing cooperative activities between committees and agencies of the National Assembly, and fostering interactions between Vietnamese NA deputies and their counterparts in Singapore and Japan, including young and female legislators.
The parties are also focused on enhancing the important role of the Parliamentary Friendship Alliance and Friendship Groups in promoting people-to-people exchanges, business cooperation, and cooperation between localities, as well as emphasising the crucial role of the three legislative bodies in overseeing the effective implementation of signed treaties, agreements, and memorandums of understanding.
The parties are coordinating to perfect the institutional framework, policies, and legal system, facilitating socio-economic development, and supporting businesses from the three countries in expanding cooperation and investment in each other's markets. They are also strengthening close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, organisations, and inter-parliamentary forums at regional and global levels (such as IPU, AIPA, ARF, APPF, ASEP, etc.).
In particular, the cooperation agreement between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the House of Councillors, signed during this visit, will enhance cooperation effectiveness between the two countries' legislative bodies. It will create favourable conditions for both sides to implement bilateral cooperation activities as well as engage in multilateral forums, thereby contributing to the promotion of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the world in alignment with the interests of the people of both nations.
Local cooperation is one of the bright spots between Vietnam-Singapore and Vietnam-Japan bilateral relations.
Delegation exchanges and visits between the two countries’ localities have been vibrant and deepening, serving as one of the key factors in enhancing cooperation in investment, trade, labour, and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
The delegation accompanying the National Assembly Chairman on this official visit to the two countries includes leaders from several localities representing Vietnam’s northern, central, and southern regions.
With substantial discussions and exchanges, as well as the active participation of leaders from the localities of Vietnam, Singapore, and Japan, I am confident that NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s visit will not only contribute to promoting bilateral diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Singapore, and Vietnam and Japan but also enhance connectivity and foster practical cooperation between the localities of Vietnam and those of Singapore and Japan. This will bring tangible benefits to the people and business communities of the three countries.
With Singapore, local cooperation between the two countries has been strongly promoted. Singaporean investors have participated in nearly all sectors of Vietnam’s economy (18 out of 21) across 51 out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam. Leading the way is Ho Chi Minh City (19.3%), followed by Hanoi (10.8%) and Bac Ninh (7.6%). Other notable areas include Binh Duong (the hub of VSIP), Long An, and Quang Nam. The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) network stands as a symbol of the successful economic cooperation between the two countries.
Regarding Japan, localities in Vietnam and Japan have signed over 110 cooperation agreements and established around 100 sister-city relationships. Notable partnerships include Ho Chi Minh City with Osaka and Nagano; Hanoi-Fukuoka and Tokyo; Da Nang-Sakai and Yokohama; Phu Tho-Nara; Hue-Kyoto; Quang Nam-Nagasaki; Hung Yen-Kanagawa; Hai Phong-Niigata.
