Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien-Loong on April 20 affirmed that Singapore gives high priority to relations with Vietnam during his talk on the phone with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien-Loong
on April 20 affirmed that Singapore gives high priority to relations with
Vietnam during his talk on the phone with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh
Chinh.
Calling Chinh to congratulate him over his election as Prime
Minister of Vietnam, Lee also appreciated Vietnam’s success in responding to
the COVID-19 pandemic and in socio-economic development as well as external
relations.
In reply, PM Chinh said he hopes to work closely with the Singaporean
PM to further promote the strategic partnership between the two countries
across the fields.
The two government
leaders rejoiced at the positive developments in bilateral cooperation despite
the difficulties brought by COVID-19. They noted that Singapore was the biggest
investor in Vietnam in 2020 and the first quarter of 2021.
They agreed to bolster
joint work in fields of the countries’ potential and strength, such as finance,
information technology, agro-fisheries, education-training, and infrastructure,
while seeking to expand cooperation in areas related to the Fourth Industrial
Revolution like clean energy, smart city, innovation, digital economy, as well
as the sharing of experience in management, economic development, and human
resources training.
The two sides
consented to boost cooperation in responding to COVID-19 and facilitating the
repatriation of each other’s citizens, and accelerate negotiations on travel
preferential regulations between the two countries toward resuming safe commercial
flights that suit the situation in each country and in the region so as to
promote bilateral trade, investment and tourism ties.
PM Chinh
appreciated the close and effective cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore
at regional and international forums, and thanked Singapore for supporting
Vietnam as Chair of ASEAN in 2020. He asked Singapore to continue backing Vietnam
in its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2021.
The two PMs affirmed
their resolve to make active contribution to building a strong, united and
resilient ASEAN Community with a central role and common voice in regional and
international peace and security issues.
PM Chinh invited the
Singaporean PM to visit Vietnam at a suitable time. PM Lee Hsien Loong accepted
the invitation and expressed his wish to welcome the Vietnamese PM to
Singapore./.