Vietnamese President starts State visit to Singapore

The visit to Singapore until August 30 is made at the invitation of President Tony Tan Keng Yam.  The Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership has been growing in a result-oriented manner over the past years, as seen through regular visits at all levels and expanded cooperation between their Parties, States, parliaments and Governments. The two Southeast Asian nations have also enjoyed thriving collaboration in economics-trade and investment, defence-security, education-training, transport, tourism, finance and law.

Singapore now ranks third and eighth among ASEAN and global trade partners of Vietnam, respectively. Bilateral trade has risen sharply in recent years, hitting US$16.22 billion in 2015.

Singapore has 1,643 valid investment projects with a total registered capital of over US$37.9 billion in Vietnam at present, placing it in the third position out of the 116 countries and territories investing in the latter.

The Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks (VSIP) in Vietnam’s Binh Duong, Bac Ninh and Quang Ngai provinces and Hai Phong city have operated effectively and considered a symbol of bilateral cooperation.  President Tran Dai Quang’s State visit to Singapore aims to continue realising the foreign policy stated at the 12th National Party Congress earlier this year and intensifying Vietnam’s foreign relations through fostering the strategic partnership with Singapore.  The Vietnamese delegation during the visit includes head of the Presidential Office Dao Viet Trung, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha, Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Thanh, Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Hong Nam, and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh.