Singapore, Viet Nam usher in new period

Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam (right) meets Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. — VNA/VNS Photo Tri Dung

SINGAPORE (VNS)— Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam yesterday hailed the official visit of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as a key event that ushers the two countries into a new period of friendship.

The Vietnamese leader was welcomed to a reception at Istana Presidential Palace, where the President reasserted his belief that Viet Nam would soon record greater achievements in national construction and development. He recalled his first-hand observation of Viet Nam's fast development during his April visit.

Trong responded by congratulating Singapore on its achievements in all fields and great prestige in the regional and international arenas.

The leaders said they were pleased with the strong bilateral cooperation between the two countries in recent years, highlighting the successful implementation of the Viet Nam-Singapore connectivity framework agreement as one of their many new economic ties.

They agreed that the 40th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties next year would be an event of great significance, and would open a new chapter in their friendship. They endeavoured to strive together to achieve peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and all over the world.

They discussed the tensions in East Sea and agreed that all disputes must be settled through peaceful negotiations on the basis of the international law and the UN Charter, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea. They called for negotiations between ASEAN and China to follow this line of discussion at an early date.

It was noted with pleasure that Viet Nam and Singapore share similar viewpoints on many regional and international issues, with the two countries working together closely at recent forums. They believe that ASEAN member countries will overcome difficulties to successfully build the ASEAN Community by 2015.

Trong invited the President to visit Viet Nam again and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

After the reception Trong visited the National Orchid Garden where he attended a ceremony to name orchids. He then visited the High-tech Fusionopolis Centre and the Economic Development Board (EDB), where he spoke highly of the Singaporean Government's investment in research activities, saying that science and technology is another potential field for future partnership. — VNS