The agreement was reached during a meeting in Hanoi on August 26 between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Albert Chua, who was visiting Vietnam and co-chairing the 17th Vietnam–Singapore Political Consultation.

Son highly appreciated the strong development of bilateral relations since the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Party General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Singapore in March 2025, particularly in economy, science and technology, clean energy connectivity, and other emerging fields.

He emphasised that the Political Consultation mechanism plays a key role in reviewing and outlining directions for cooperation between the two foreign ministries, exchanging views on regional and international issues of common concern, and strengthening collaboration between relevant agencies of both ministries. He also proposed enhancing exchanges at all levels, completing the Action Programme to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership within 2025, promoting the effectiveness of existing bilateral mechanisms, and exploring new frameworks appropriate to the new partnership framework.

The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed Singapore’s continued expansion and upgrading of the Vietnam–Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP 2.0), giving priority to technology transfer, low-carbon development, and innovation, while extending this successful model to the greater Mekong subregion.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in wind power exports, carbon credit exchange, and port development, as well as in combating transnational crimes, including cybercrime, enhancing air connectivity, and promoting people-to-people exchanges.

Secretary Albert Chua affirmed that Vietnam is Singapore’s key partner in the region, and pledged continued support in human resource training for Vietnam and ASEAN countries, including Timor-Leste. He fully agreed with Son’s proposal to strengthen bilateral cooperation in food security, crime prevention, innovation, and sustainable development.

Earlier the same day, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong co-chaired the 17th Vietnam–Singapore Political Consultation with Secretary Albert Chua. Both sides reviewed achievements, proposed directions to implement high-level agreements, and noted the depth and effectiveness of bilateral economic cooperation.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Singapore hit over US$5.9 billion in the first six months of 2025, up 17.5% year on year, while Singapore’s investment in Vietnam has nearly quintupled over the past decade, reaching US$86.5 billion with 4,160 projects, ranking first in ASEAN and second worldwide. These achievements were attributed to the contribution of 20 Vietnam–Singapore Industrial Parks across 13 provinces, along with cooperation in defence, security, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides agreed to promote new areas of cooperation such as science and technology, innovation, carbon credits, and clean energy connectivity, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 and realising the ASEAN Power Grid initiative.

Singapore also agreed to cooperate more closely with Vietnam in food security, transnational crime prevention, defence cooperation including naval collaboration, and the sharing of expertise in human resource training, digital transformation, smart cities, and regional logistics development.

On regional and international issues, the two Deputy Ministers stressed that multilateralism, equality, and balanced national interests are prerequisites for peace and stability. They also consented to continue coordinating to maintain ASEAN unity, effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), support each other in multilateral mechanisms, and prepare for the 18th Political Consultation in Singapore in 2026.

On the same occasion, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, Head of Vietnam’s ASEAN SOM, received Secretary Albert Chua, Head of Singapore’s ASEAN SOM. Both sides agreed to share strategic interests and common perspectives within ASEAN, laying a foundation for close cooperation within ASEAN following Vietnam’s admission to the bloc in 1995.

They were committed to enhancing ASEAN mechanisms, maintaining regional centrality, and contributing effectively to regional and global issues, especially as Singapore assumes the ASEAN Chair in 2027, and Vietnam hosts APEC 2027, and later chairs ASEAN in 2029.

Congratulations to Singapore on National Day

VOV.VN - The leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam have sent congratulatory letters to the leaders and people of Singapore on its 60th National Day (August 9, 1965 – 2025).