Despite a population of just over 6 million, Singapore is considered a beacon of economic and social development in Asia, marking its position as a prosperous nation with a strong economy and high living standards. In 2024, Singapore’s GDP growth reached 4.4%, the highest since emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, far surpassing the 1.1% growth in 2023 and 3.8% in 2022. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) predicts that the country’s economy will continue its stable growth trajectory in 2025.
Beyond its economic dynamism, Singapore is an active member of the international community, pursuing an independent and self-reliant foreign policy with a priority on economic development. It places great importance on relations with ASEAN countries and the bloc’s central role. As a founding member of ASEAN, Singapore continues to play a constructive role in fostering unity, cooperation, and development within the block. The country has been also maintaining strong relations with its neighbours, balancing its interactions with major powers, and advocating for a rules-based international order, peaceful dispute resolution, and multilateral trade systems.
The more than five-decade-long journey of development between Vietnam and Singapore has yielded significant achievements. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973 and elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership in 2013. Notably, during General Secretary To Lam’s official visit to Singapore from March 9 to 13, both sides agreed to upgrade their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, ushering in a new phase with promising prospects for future bilateral cooperation.
Among the various areas of cooperation, green economy and digital economy stand out as key pillars. Vietnam and Singapore established the Green Economy-Digital Economy Partnership in February 2023 and signed an agreement on renewable energy cooperation. Under this agreement, Vietnam will supply clean energy to Singapore, making a significant contribution to Singapore’s development.
In the digital era, science, technology, and innovation are considered the main drivers of growth. According to the Vietnam News Agency, Professor Vu Minh Khuong from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore noted that the digital economy is characterised by rapid development driven by technological advancements. He stressed that Vietnam has a vast pool of IT talent, and deepening cooperation with Singapore would provide substantial growth momentum for both countries.
The regional media have also praised Vietnam-Singapore cooperation in the green and digital economies, recognising it as a model of successful ASEAN collaboration. Singapore-based OpenGov Asia highlighted the Green Economy-Digital Economy Partnership as a dynamic and promising cooperation that combines Singapore’s expertise in digital services and clean technology with Vietnam’s strengths in the energy and IT sectors. This synergy allows both countries to pursue long-term sustainable growth.
Over the past half-century, the strong and friendly Vietnam-Singapore partnership has flourished in both breadth and depth. Amid rapid and complex regional and global changes, and in response to their respective development needs, both nations remain committed to strengthening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership—an invaluable shared asset for their peoples.
