On March 12, General Secretary To Lam met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Singapore’s Parliament House, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across various fields.

Strengthening Vietnam-Singapore relations

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong described General Secretary To Lam’s visit as a pivotal moment in the two nations’ partnership.

To Lam, in turn, expressed Vietnam’s strong commitment to deepening its friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Singapore. The visit comes as both nations prepare to celebrate Vietnam’s 80th National Day and Singapore’s 60th National Day.

Both leaders acknowledged the significant economic achievements in recent years, with bilateral trade exceeding $9 billion in 2024.

Key aspects of the upgraded partnership

Singapore remains Vietnam’s second-largest foreign investor, with cumulative investments surpassing $80 billion. The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) continue to serve as a symbol of successful economic cooperation.

In addition to economic collaboration, both nations have strengthened ties in:

Defense and security

Education and technology

Tourism and labor relations

People-to-people exchanges

Recognizing these achievements, Vietnam and Singapore have officially upgraded their Strategic Partnership (established in 2013) to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

This marks the first CSP that Singapore has established with an ASEAN country, setting a precedent for deeper regional cooperation.

Expanding cooperation in key sectors

The two leaders outlined major initiatives to enhance cooperation, including:

Political trust and diplomatic exchanges: Expanding high-level visits and dialogues.

Economic collaboration: Strengthening trade, investment, and innovation partnerships.

Green and digital economies: Developing low-carbon VSIP 2.0 industrial parks and clean energy projects.

Maritime and logistics cooperation: Singapore expressed interest in supporting Vietnam’s port and maritime infrastructure.

Education and workforce development: Singapore will assist Vietnam in training high-level policymakers and expanding student exchange programs.

Lawrence Wong highlighted Singapore’s commitment to sending more students to Vietnam to promote cultural understanding and youth engagement.

Regional cooperation and maritime security

Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN unity and the development of the Mekong subregion.

They also emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, advocating for the full implementation of the Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982.

A new era of Vietnam-Singapore cooperation

Speaking to the media after the talks, To Lam emphasized that this upgraded partnership reflects the growing trust between the two nations. He described Singapore as one of Vietnam’s most important economic partners and a reliable regional ally.

Vietnam now holds Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with 12 countries, including China, Russia, India, South Korea, the US, Japan, Australia, France, Malaysia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and now Singapore.

Tran Thuong