Professor Vũ Minh Khương of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy speaks to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Singapore. — VNA/VNS Photo Việt Dũng

SINGAPORE — The visit to Singapore by Permanent Member of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Trần Cẩm Tú and the high-level Vietnamese delegation, together with the inaugural Vietnam–Singapore Strategic Dialogue, has marked a historic milestone in bilateral relations, Professor Vũ Minh Khương of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy told the Vietnam News Agency.

Khương stressed that for the first time, the CPV and the People's Action Party of Singapore have established a channel for strategic dialogue, reflecting a long-term vision, laying a profound cornerstone and carrying great expectations for tangible results.

According to the scholar, strategic cooperation between Việt Nam and Singapore holds potential for enormous value creation. Việt Nam has abundant potential, dynamism and talent, while Singapore boasts extensive governance experience and has successfully transformed itself from a Third World country into a First World nation. The synergy between the two countries could therefore generate breakthrough development, enhance their international standing and strengthen their resilience amid increasingly complex global changes.

He stressed that deeper ties between the two countries, particularly in science – technology, productive forces and governance, could create a highly important impetus for Việt Nam’s reform efforts.

However, Khương perceived that the process requires concrete planning and sustained proactive action. Singapore, despite its considerable development experience, remains open to learning from others. Changi Airport, for example, consistently ranks among the world’s best, yet Singapore is actively studying Chinese airports, from Shanghai to Hangzhou, particularly in their use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve flight management.

Việt Nam should similarly take a proactive approach to deepening cooperation with Singapore in science, technology and governance, the professor said, adding that strategic cooperation in productive forces is particularly important. The two countries should now focus more on productive forces and production relations to achieve substantive strides, rather than concentrating only on trade and investment as in the past.

He proposed establishing a special task force comprising Government members which are policymakers, as well as businesses and experts to fully leverage the advantages and foundations created by the strategic dialogue, with monthly assessments and annual reviews.

Việt Nam should take practical steps immediately in 2026 and formulate clear plans for subsequent years to implement the outcomes of the first Việt Nam-Singapore Strategic Dialogue, he said.

In the spirit of the dialogue, Việt Nam’s 29 strategic economic sectors and its localities should develop concrete plans to narrow the gap with Singapore in governance, production capacity and value creation, Khương concluded. — VNA/VNS