Singaporean PM’s visit will be crucial to comprehensive strategic partnership: ambassador

Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the former's visit to the city-state on March 12, 2025. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

SINGAPORE — The official visit to Việt Nam by Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong from March 25-26 holds great significance, especially in the context that the two countries have recently upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, according to Vietnamese ambassador to Singapore Trần Phước Anh.

In an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Singapore, Anh said the trip demonstrates the interest and importance that Singapore attaches to its cooperation with Việt Nam.

As it takes place just over a week after Việt Nam’s Party General Secretary Tô Lâm's trip to Singapore, it is also a step toward implementing the perceptions and agreements reached by the two countries' high-ranking leaders during Lâm’s visit, he stated.

Regarding Việt Nam-Singapore relations, the diplomat affirmed that there are many areas Singapore seeks to promote with Việt Nam, such as food security and energy security. Given Singapore’s small land area and limited natural resources, while Việt Nam has a large market and abundant natural resources, Việt Nam can provide significant support in ensuring food and energy security for Singapore.

Anh pointed to potential projects in the fields of offshore wind energy, food and foodstuffs, and data centres and those at Việt Nam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs).

Financial centre development is also a sector that Việt Nam is eager to develop, and Singapore has extensive experience in this field, the ambassador said, believing that Singapore is willing to cooperate with Việt Nam in this sphere, bringing mutual benefits to the bilateral relationship.

Another aspect Việt Nam can look forward to from Singapore is support in training and capacity building - not only for strategic-level leaders but also for professionals, civil servants, and students.

Singapore is a world-class training hub, and its close geographical proximity to Việt Nam makes this cooperation highly beneficial. It will meet Singapore’s expectations while also addressing Việt Nam’s needs, he emphasised.

The two countries can also strengthen their collaboration within the framework of ASEAN, as both are active and dynamic members who view ASEAN as a common home for maintaining peace and stability, he added.

To further develop the bilateral relations on par with the two countries’ potential and advantages, the diplomat stressed the importance of policy coordination, as both Việt Nam and Singapore are highly active and responsible members of the global community and ASEAN. Many regional and global issues require the joint efforts of both countries, along with other ASEAN members.

The leaders of Việt Nam and Singapore frequently meet and engage in discussions at regional and multilateral forums. Therefore, maintaining open exchanges to align policies and establish a common stance on regional and global issues is extremely important, Anh stressed.

The ambassador highlighted the need for close coordination and cooperation in implementing the key aspects and projects under the comprehensive strategic partnership, and dedicating sufficient resources to ensure concrete execution and tangible benefits. — VNA/VNS