Singapore and Vietnam have enhanced bilateral relations, and Vietnam has become the first ASEAN country to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with our country.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Wong Xuncai, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Su Lin, arrived in the local area on Tuesday (March 11) for a three-day official visit. The two leaders held a joint press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday (12th) to announce the news.

Prime Minister Huang, who is also our finance minister, said: “The extensive cooperation between the two countries shows our cooperation potential. The two countries can do more to achieve mutually beneficial results. Faced with today's uncertain global environment, like-minded countries like Singapore and Vietnam should cooperate more closely, not only at the bilateral level, but also jointly strengthen the unity and development of ASEAN.”

The improvement of relations will help the cooperation between New Zealand and Vietnam in key areas, including defense and security, combating transnational crime, and humanitarian rescue and disaster relief. In addition, the two countries have also promised to strengthen cooperation in emerging fields, such as renewable energy, carbon credit, submarine cable connections and digital technology.

The two countries of New Zealand and Vietnam established a strategic partnership in 2013 and discussed further enhancing bilateral relations when the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2023.

Further reading

Prime Minister Wong Xuncai welcomes General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Su Lin, to visit

Prime Minister Wong Xuncai welcomes General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Su Lin, to visit

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Su Lin, visits Xinhua and Prime Minister Wong Xuncai witness the signing of several memorandums of understanding

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Su Lin, visits Xinhua and Prime Minister Wong Xuncai witness the signing of several memorandums of understanding

Before the press conference began, the two leaders also witnessed the exchange of several memorandums of understanding and cooperation agreements between the two countries' representatives, including issuing licenses to develop two new Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks. Including these two industrial parks, the two countries have jointly developed 20 industrial parks in 14 provinces in Vietnam.

Over the past 10 years, bilateral trade in Vietnam has grown steadily, with the volume of goods trade reaching S$31.6 billion last year. As of December last year, my country was the largest source of foreign investment in Vietnam, with an investment of US$10.2 billion (about S$13.6 billion); based on the cumulative investment amount, my country is Vietnam's second largest foreign investor.

This is Su Lin’s first visit to our country since taking office in August last year, and it is also the second visit to the new General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam after his then-General Secretary Nguyen Phu Tung visited our country in 2012.

Su Lin went to the National Orchid Garden to attend the Orchid Flower naming ceremony on Wednesday morning, and then arrived at the Parliament Building to review the guard of honor accompanied by Premier Huang.