Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh receives visiting Singaporean Foreign Minister

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh suggested several measures to augment the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership during a meeting with visiting Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Hanoi on June 22.

Balakrishnan affirmed that the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership has been developing in a substantive and effective manner with high political trust and huge cooperation potential, especially when both are members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The two countries share many common benefits in combating COVID-19 and strengthening cooperation towards post-pandemic recovery, he emphasised.

The Singaporean official also informed his host about the outcomes of the talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son on June 21, including the proposals to establish working groups on COVID-19 response and cooperation in the digital economy as well as facilitate travel between the two countries.

Welcoming Minister Balakrishnan, Deputy PM Minh highly valued the Singaporean Government’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and conduct mass vaccination, expressing his hope that Singapore will share its experience and cooperate with Vietnam in applying high technology in rapid testing and contact tracing and access to safe and effective vaccines.

He applauded the two countries working to soon establish and convene meetings between their working groups on COVID-19 response towards mutual recognition of each other’s vaccination certificates.

The Deputy PM also welcomed the cooperation in the digital economy to create momentum for economic recovery and development in the new context.

The two sides should devise measures for effectively carrying out the cooperation aspects within the framework of the Vietnam - Singapore economic connectivity agreement, including organising the 15th connectivity ministerial meeting early, promoting the effective and balanced development of trade, and developing the existing Vietnam - Singapore industrial parks (VSIPs) towards smart, high-tech, innovative, and environmentally friendly ones, according to him.

Minh also suggested Singapore continue the capacity building cooperation programmes in the Mekong sub-region, coordinate viewpoints on regional and international issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue, and uphold the solidarity and centrality of ASEAN.

Balakrishnan pledged coordination with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to step up all-level mutual visits and effectively implement directions issued by the countries’ leaders, thereby helping to develop the strategic partnership extensively and substantively on the basis of mutual political trust and common benefits./.