Foreign Minister: PM’s visits to Singapore, Brunei successful
Hanoi (VNA) – The official visits to Singapore
and Brunei by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse and a high-ranking
Vietnamese delegation from February 8-11 have been successful, contributing to
lifting Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership and Vietnam-Brunei
comprehensive partnership to a greater height, said Minister of Foreign Affairs
Bui Thanh Son.
Talking with the press about the outcomes of
the visits, Minister Son said they were the first visits to the Southeast Asian countries by the Vietnamese PM since the 13th National Party Congress and the
COVID-19 outbreak. It was also the first visit to Singapore by the PM after
nearly five years and the first to Brunei after nearly 16 years.
The visit also took place at a time when
Vietnam and Singapore are celebrating the 50th anniversary of
diplomatic ties, the 10th anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership
this year. Vietnam and Brunei also marked the 30th anniversary of their
diplomatic ties last year.
Son said the visits achieved comprehensive,
practical and specific results. The Vietnamese PM engaged in over 30 activities
during three days, notably talks and meetings with the two countries’ leaders, leading
corporate executives and representatives of the Vietnamese communities.
According to him, Singaporean and Brunei
leaders agreed to keep consolidating strategic political trust with Vietnam via
facilitating high-level visits and effective implementation of bilateral
cooperation mechanisms and important cooperation agreements.
A number of cooperation documents between
Vietnam and the two countries were signed, including those in economy, trade,
investment, maritime, youth, consular affairs, research and training activities.
In Singapore, a highlight was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Vietnam-Singapore Digital Economy – Green Economy, laying a foundation for bilateral cooperation in digital economy, circular economy, green economy, clean energy and climate change response.
For the first time, Vietnam and Brunei signed an Action
Programme on the implementation of Vietnam-Brunei comprehensive partnership for
the 2023-2027 period.
Practical results during the visits have not only deepened
collaboration between Vietnam and the two countries in traditional fields such
as politics, economy, national defence-security, education-training, oil and
gas, tourism, people-to-people exchange but also created a framework for new
cooperation areas.
While attending forums with Singaporean and Brunei enterprises,
PM Chinh affirmed Vietnam’s strong commitments to maintaining political and
macro-economic stability, and facilitating new cooperation realms. Participants
also vowed to do long-term business and expand their operations in Vietnam.
Leaders of the three nations shared aspirations for a united and cohesive ASEAN and a Southeast Asian region of peace, stability and prosperity. They promised to work closely together
to maintain the bloc’s solidarity and central role amid the complicated developments
in the region and the world at present, as well as to contribute to peace, stability,
cooperation and development in the region and the world, Son added./.