President Tran Dai Quang (middle) and his Singaporean counterpart, Tony Tan Keng Yam review the guard of honour during an official welcoming ceremony yesterday in Singapore. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

SINGAPORE – President Trần Đại Quang has affirmed Việt Nam’s policy of treasuring the Strategic Partnership with Singapore.
He made the statement during talks with Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam yesterday following a ceremony to welcome his State visit to Singapore in the Istana Presidential Palace.
The Vietnamese leader lauded achievements that the Singaporean Government and people have gained, especially in economic development.
The Singaporean leader said that President Quang’s visit will contribute to boosting the bilateral Strategic Partnership.
Both sides expressed pleasure at the growth of bilateral ties since the two countries set up their Strategic Partnership in 2013. They agreed to strengthen exchanges of high-level and all level delegations to boost co-operation.
President Trần Đại Quang praised Singapore for being the leading trade and investment partner of Việt Nam over recent years. President Tony Tan Keng Yam stated that Singaporean enterprises are satisfied with the investment and business environment in Việt Nam and wish to expand.
The two sides agreed to foster affiliation in different areas, such as defence, security, education, tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
The same day, President Quang met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who voiced his delight at the growing Singapore-Việt Nam Strategic Partnership.
The Vietnamese leader appreciated Singapore’s support for Việt Nam’s State personnel training. He shared Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s idea to expand bilateral ties in the future for the benefit of both peoples.
The two leaders agreed to speed up the implementation of the Việt Nam-Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement. President Quang welcomed Singapore’s Vice Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean’s visit to Việt Nam to attend a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Việt Nam-Singapore Industrial Park in Bình Dương province.
Singapore has been one of the top investment and trade partners of Việt Nam, with two-way trade reaching US$9.3 billion in 2015.
The two sides agreed to increase partnership in defence, security, education, tourism and culture.
They also discussed regional and international issues, concurring to continue their co-ordination and mutual support at regional and world forums, especially in the framework of the ASEAN and the United Nations.
They highlighted ASEAN’s common stance in dealing with disputes in the region, stressing the need to maintain peace, stability and maritime security and safety in the East Sea.
They agreed that disputes in the East Sea should be settled through peaceful measures and were both willing to work with other parties to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and to form a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong declared that he will support Việt Nam in the organisation of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Forum Summit in 2017.
Also on the day, President Quang and his wife paid floral tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh’s statue in a park in front of the Asian Civilisation Museum.
They also attended a ceremony to name orchid species after their names in the Botanic Garden of Singapore.

Singapore-Việt Nam Business Forum

Later the same day, President Quang attended the Singapore-Việt Nam Business Forum, which drew more than 300 Singapore businesses and 60 others from Việt Nam.

Addressing the forum, Quang affirmed that Việt Nam wanted to promote the strategic relations with Singapore to a new level, adding that Việt Nam encouraged Singapore businesses to invest in projects involving information technology, biology, the environment, infrastructure development, finance-banking, high-quality tourism and services, logistics and education.

Việt Nam also encouraged Singapore businesses to boost investment into the country via risk investment funds, information exchange, experience sharing and by helping connect Vietnamese businesses with global markets, he said.

He confirmed that Việt Nam is committed to create a favourable, clear and equal business and investment environment for foreign investors, including those from Singapore.

Việt Nam applauded Singapore’s opening of its market to Vietnamese farm produce and wanted to bring more Vietnamese products such as consumer products, electronics and components to Singaporen consumers, the President said.

Singaporean Minister of Trade and Industry S. Iswaran said Singaporean investors always kept close watch over the economic situation of Việt Nam and have seen positive signs from the country.

Việt Nam has made positive steps in improving the investment and business environment and the priorities of the economy of Việt Nam met the priorities of the economy of Singapore, he said.

At the forum, the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Singapore Business Federation signed a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation and the JSC Bank for Foreign Trade of Việt Nam (Vietcombank) and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) singed an agreement on GIC’s purchase of 7.73 per cent of shares of Vietcombank.

On the same day, President Quang received Chairman of Ascendas-Singbridge Corporation Wong Kan Seng, and Chairman of Sembcorp Group Tang Kin Fei. — VNS