Vietnam sends greetings to Singapore over 45-year ties

In their letters, the Vietnamese leaders expressed their delights at the unceasing consolidation and development of the comprehensive cooperation and relations between the two countries over the past 45 years.

Vietnam and Singapore established their status of strategic partnership in 2013, which ushered in a new period of closer ties and deepened mutual trust, they noted.

The leaders wrote about the significant achievements recorded in bilateral cooperation in various fields, in particular economics, trade, and investment; security and defence; education and training; and science and technology.

Their letters expressed their hopes for strengthening the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership in the future for the sake of their peoples, and for peace and prosperity of the region and the world at large.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent a letter of greetings to Foreign Minister of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan. Deputy PM Minh is currently paying an official visit to Singapore and will attend the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings there.

Vietnam and Singapore have worked closely together in the ASEAN Community, and supported each other at regional and international forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the United Nations (UN).

Singapore has been one of Vietnam’s biggest trade partners since 1996, ranking second amongst ASEAN and eighth amongst of global trade partners. Bilateral trade last year rose by 8.9% from 2016 to reach US$8.3 billion.

Singapore is now the biggest investor in Vietnam amongst ASEAN, and third globally. As of the end of last May, Singapore had 2,048 investment projects worth US$43.53 billion in Vietnam. Their businesses have been present in 48 of the 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam.

Close to 9,000 Vietnamese students are currently learning in Singapore, serving as a bridge to promote the two countries’ friendship.

Source: NDO