HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam and Singapore have agreed to boost co-operation in defence and security, following discussions yesterday during the official visit to Việt Nam by Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, Teo Chee Hean.

Co-operation between military branches will be accelerated, as will co-ordination between the two sides in the fight against terrorism and pirates, people smuggling, hi-tech crime and money laundering, Vietnam News Agency reported.

In talks with his visiting Singaporean counterpart, Deputy PM Trương Hòa Bình was convinced that the visit would enhance the strategic partnership, established on September 11, 2013, between the two countries.

During their talks, the two leaders agreed that the economic relationship was a highlight in bilateral ties.

Deputy PM Bình applauded Singapore as Việt Nam’s leading trade and investment partner for many years. Singapore ranked third amongst 116 countries and territories investing into Việt Nam with bilateral trade reaching US$9.3 billion in 2015.

Delighted to attend the 20^th anniversary of the founding of the Việt Nam-Singapore Industrial Park (IP), Deputy PM Hean said the success and expansion of Việt Nam-Singapore IPs throughout the north, centre and south of Việt Nam demonstrated fruitful co-operation between the two countries and Singaporean investors’ belief in the potential of the host country.

The two sides agreed to closely co-ordinate to take full advantage of benefits brought about by the Trans-Pacific Partnership when it comes into effect.

Deputy PMs Bình and Hean also agreed to intensify co-operation in justice, legislation, education, culture and tourism.

Besides bilateral ties, the leaders’ discussed regional and international issues, agreeing that Việt Nam and Singapore would support each other in regional and international platforms.

They agreed to promote solidarity and maintain the central role of ASEAN in the regional security structure; affirming ASEAN’s role in resolving disputes in the region; highlighting the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the South China Sea (Việt Nam called East Sea); agreed to address South China Sea disputes through peaceful measures; co-ordinate with parties to implement the Declaration on Conduct for the East Sea and to soon reach a Code of Conduct.

President Trần Đại Quang hosted a reception for Deputy PM Hean yesterday, suggesting the guest promote collaboration in training, support the prevention of terrorism risks, and cyber, organised, and trans-national crimes to ensure security in the respective countries.

The President also proposed the two sides implement new economic deals signed during his visit to Singapore, including one between the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and the Government Investment Corporation of Singapore (GIC) and another between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Singapore Business Federation (SBF).

He expressed pleasure at the development of Vietnam-Singapore IP over the past 20 years. He said he hopes Singaporean enterprises will invest in Vietnam via venture capital funds while sharing information and experience to link Vietnamese firms with the global market.

Deputy PM Hean showed his delight at the thriving partnership between Viet Nam and Singapore, especially in trade and investment.

The most important factor for foreign investors, including those from Singapore, in the Vietnamese market is the country’s measures to improve its investment climate, he said.

Singaporean investors are interested in hi-tech development projects in Việt Nam, especially in high added value and highly-applicable industrial sectors, he added.

Regarding cyber security, Deputy PM Hean said Singapore has invited Việt Nam’s Ministry of Public Security to participate in the Asian conference in October to discuss challenges in the field with ASEAN ministers and extra-bloc partners.

Holding a reception for Deputy PM Hean during his three-day visit until tomorrow, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân said the mutual attachment and trust between the leadership, government and people have further strengthened the partnership.

She hoped that Singapore would continue supporting Việt Nam as the host of APEC 2017.
Singaporean Deputy PM Hean asserted that the effective co-operation between the two countries in economics, education, defence and security has brought about benefits for both Singapore and Việt Nam.

Hean said since the first Vietnam-Singapore IP in the southern Bình Dương Province opened, there have been an additional six opened across Việt Nam, five of which accommodate 600 companies from across the world, employing 170,000 Vietnamese labourers.

Lauding Việt Nam as one of the TPP member countries, Deputy PM Hean said that the agreement would help Việt Nam gain advantages in drawing investment.

He said, apart from exchange of high-ranking officials, the two parliaments should soon establish a Group of Friendship Parliamentarians in each country to accelerate experience exchanges in legislation.
During the reception, some members of the Singapore Parliament said the new Investment Law, which took effect in 2015, specified new regulations, prompting more Singaporean investors to do business in Việt Nam. — VNS