President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse led a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to make a State visit to Singapore from February 24 to 26 at the invitation of Singaporean President Halimah Yacob. The visit is of great significance as it is the first foreign trip of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and high-ranking Vietnamese leaders in 2022, following the consistent foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress, which prioritises developing relations with neighbouring countries and ASEAN countries. This is also the first State visit that Singapore is hosting since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, thus demonstrating Singapore’s great appreciation of Vietnam.


At a time when the two countries are preparing to celebrate their 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as well as the 10th anniversary of the establishment of their strategic partnership in 2023, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s State visit to Singapore provides a great opportunity for the leaders of the two countries to discuss measures to the strengthen political trust, friendship, and cooperation in all fields in a more practical and effective manner.

The two sides will discuss methods to expand cooperation in key areas of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), foster the connection between the two economies in the context that Vietnam and Singapore are members of new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs), and strengthen cooperation within the ASEAN framework regarding circular economy and green and sustainable development.

Within the framework of the visit, the President will meet with the Vietnamese community in Singapore to promote national strength and the nation’s great unity bloc.

“Lion island country” reaching out to development

As a country with a relatively small area and population, Singapore has gradually risen to become a leading developed country in the region and one of the world's manufacturing and financial centres. Singapore is listed among the countries with the highest GDP per capita in the world.

The “lion island” nation has a strongly developed economy with spearhead industries such as industry, trade, and services. Singapore's industries such as shipbuilding and ship repair and port business thrived. Over the years, Singapore has always played the role of one of the world's leading shipping hubs. Singapore also has strengths in exporting electronic equipment, information technology products, and pharmaceuticals.

In recent times, with a high rate of people being vaccinated against COVID-19, Singapore has moved to a stage of development with adaptation to the disease. According to Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry, thanks to the good recovery of the manufacturing and service industries, Singapore's economic growth was recorded at 7.6% in 2021. Singapore and many other countries promote their commitment to open and stably operate seaports; support the multilateral trading system, secure supply chains, maintain maritime and aviation logistics activities, and soon restore cross-border travel activities.

Regarding foreign affairs, Singapore continues to implement policies on the basis of the principles of independence, self-reliance, and prioritising economic development. As one of the founding countries of ASEAN, Singapore always upholds a central role in ASEAN, as well as its relations with the Association's member countries, including Vietnam. Singapore continues to maintain momentum in relations with neighbouring countries, maintaining balance in relations with major countries and supporting the building of a rules-based international order, towards the peaceful settlement of disputes and for the multilateral trading system.

In addition, Singapore has also promoted health diplomacy to share information, participate in research on vaccines against COVID-19, and support important partner countries to cope with the epidemic.

Substantive and effective Vietnam-Singapore cooperation

Good political relations

Vietnam and Singapore officially established diplomatic relations in 1973. After raising the relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2013, the relationship between the two countries has grown in a deeper and more effective manner. In over half a century, the relationship between Vietnam and Singapore has become closer, with a high level of trust and cooperation between the two countries, obtaining many positive results.

The two countries are enjoying fine political relations while cooperation through Party and State channels is continually expanding. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, delegation exchanges and meetings at all levels have been maintained in a flexible manner, while bilateral cooperative mechanisms have been utilised effectively, helping to sustain the relationship development momentum and orient cooperation in various fields.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong witness the launch of the ASEAN Smart Logistics Network, with the Vinh Phuc ICD Logistics Centre (SuperPort) as its first project, via videoconference on November 14, 2020.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong witness the launch of the ASEAN Smart Logistics Network, with the Vinh Phuc ICD Logistics Centre (SuperPort) as its first project, via videoconference on November 14, 2020.

Economic cooperation is a bright spot

Economic cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore, with notable achievements in recent years, is a typical bright spot in Southeast Asia. Despite the impact of the pandemic, total trade between the two countries still reached 8.3 billion USD in 2021, up 23.3% over the previous year. Bilateral trade in January 2022 was estimated at 783.9 million USD, up 6.8% over the same month last year.

Singapore has always been among the top investors in Vietnam for many years. Singapore is currently Vietnam's largest investor in ASEAN, ranked 2nd out of 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. As of February 2022, Singapore has 2,860 valid projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 66 billion USD. The average investment size of a Singaporean-invested project is over 23 million USD, higher than the overall average investment of 11.9 million USD per project. Singapore currently has investment projects in 51 provinces and cities across Vietnam, focusing on the processing, manufacturing, real estate, production and distribution of electricity, gas, water, and air conditioners.

Vietnam’s economy will not only recover but will recover strongly in 2022. Many Singaporean companies and corporations will continue to seize opportunities in the Vietnamese market and contribute to promoting the development of the Vietnamese economy.
Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam

Vietnam also has 118 valid investment projects in Singapore, with total registered capital of 498 million USD, focusing on the areas of science and technology, wholesale and retail, repair of cars and motorbikes, information and communication, manufacturing and processing industry, and administrative activities and services in support of real estate business activities.

Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP), a symbol of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP), a symbol of economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) is a symbol of economic cooperation between the two countries, making an important contribution to Vietnam's socio-economic recovery and development. Singapore ranks third out of 70 countries and territories with its large number of investment projects in industrial parks in Vietnam. Industrial parks across the country have attracted 588 projects by Singaporean investors with total registered capital of about 19.3 billion USD as of the end of 2021.

Singaporean investors also invested in building infrastructure for 13 industrial parks in Vietnam, with a total area of about 7,517 ha by the end of 2021. Industrial parks invested by Singaporean investors have all come into operation, with high occupancy rates, attracting nearly 1,000 projects, including about 80% of foreign investment projects, creating jobs for nearly 300,000 direct workers.

Practical support to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic

In the context of the pandemic, Vietnam and Singapore have closely coordinated in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic; and provided each other with practical support in terms of medical supplies and equipment.

Singapore’s Temasek Foundation donates ventilators and protective equipment to Vietnam in September 2021.

Singapore’s Temasek Foundation donates ventilators and protective equipment to Vietnam in September 2021.

Following the outbreak of the pandemic, Singapore was among the first ASEAN countries to provide medical equipment and supplies to Vietnam. In September 2021, Singapore donated a large amount of important medical equipment, worth nearly 5 million USD, to Vietnam. The two sides are carrying out procedures to receive more than 120,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from the Singapore Government to support Vietnam.

For its part, Vietnam has also supported Singapore with many medical supplies, including 30,000 masks and 200 ventilators made in Vietnam.

Cooperation in many fields strengthened

Regarding defence and security, the two sides have maintained high-level delegation exchanges and existing annual dialogue and cooperation mechanisms. Along with the 2009 agreement, which will continue to be implemented, the upcoming defence cooperation agreement will help create a framework for promoting trust and military and defence cooperation between the two countries, contributing to strengthening solidarity within ASEAN.

Cooperation in the fields of finance-banking, education-training and environment between the two countries continues to be strengthened.

In terms of transportation, Singapore is one of the aviation markets of special importance to Vietnam. Despite the disruption caused by the pandemic, the airlines of the two countries resumed commercial flights on the Hanoi – Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City – Singapore routes, facilitating the recovery of their tourism sectors and contributing to the post-pandemic economic recovery.

Close coordination at multilateral forums

At the 34th ASEAN Summit in 2019 in Thailand

At the 34th ASEAN Summit in 2019 in Thailand

In addition to their bilateral cooperation, Vietnam and Singapore have closely coordinated and supported each other at regional and international organisations and forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN and APEC. The two sides affirmed their determination to actively contribute to building a strong and united ASEAN Community as well as promoting the association’s central role and common voice in regional and international issues.

As members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Vietnam and Singapore have made great efforts to make effective use of the benefits from the new-generation free trade agreements, support the multilateral trading system, and contribute to the post-pandemic economic recovery of the region.

“Both Vietnam and Singapore are looking forward to strengthening their bilateral relations to become fulcrums of Southeast Asia in terms of political, economic and strategic relations.
Prof. Bilveer Singh from the National University of Singapore”

Continuing the consistent foreign policy of the 13th Party Congress, with priority of developing relations with neighbouring and ASEAN countries, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s state visit to Singapore has affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to and wishes to further enhance the strategic partnership with Singapore. The good results of the official visit to Singapore made by Vietnamese State leader and the high-ranking delegation will contribute to developing the two nations’ strategic partnership in a more substaintive, effective, and sustainable manner.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong receives Singaporean Lee Hsien Loong during his official visit to Vietnam in March 2017.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong receives Singaporean Lee Hsien Loong during his official visit to Vietnam in March 2017.

The Executive Committee of the Vietnam – Singapore Friendship Association for the 2021-2026 tenure. (Photo: VNA)

The Executive Committee of the Vietnam – Singapore Friendship Association for the 2021-2026 tenure. (Photo: VNA)

The entrance to VSIP Bac Ninh Industrial Park

The entrance to VSIP Bac Ninh Industrial Park

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General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong receives Singaporean Lee Hsien Loong during his official visit to Vietnam in March 2017.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong receives Singaporean Lee Hsien Loong during his official visit to Vietnam in March 2017.

The Executive Committee of the Vietnam – Singapore Friendship Association for the 2021-2026 tenure. (Photo: VNA)

The Executive Committee of the Vietnam – Singapore Friendship Association for the 2021-2026 tenure. (Photo: VNA)

The entrance to VSIP Bac Ninh Industrial Park

The entrance to VSIP Bac Ninh Industrial Park

Production manager: CHU HONG THANG – NGOC THANH
Content: SON NINH – MINH ANH
Translation: NDO
Design: PHUONG NAM – DIEU THU - DANG PHI
Photos: NDO, VNA, VGP, Reuters, STB