HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam hopes to learn from Singapore’s experience in managing environmental and water resources as well as environmental quality improvement and green city development, stated President Trần Đại Quang.

Meeting with visiting Singaporean Minister of Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli in Hà Nội yesterday, the State leader underlined that environmental protection is important to Việt Nam, and the country will not sacrifice its environment at any cost.

He said that the country will continue pushing socio-economic development towards sustainability with attention on environmental protection.

He also thanked Singapore for sharing its knowledge in national governance, urban management, economic development and personnel training.

At the meeting, President Quang affirmed that Việt Nam attaches importance to ties with Singapore, asserting that the minister’s visit will open up new co-operation prospects between the two countries in natural resources and the environment.

He held that his visit to Singapore in August last year and the Việt Nam tour of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in March this year helped tighten the bilateral strategic partnership, now in its fourth year.

Connections between the leaders, governments and people of the two countries will help lift bilateral ties, he said.

President Trần Đại Quang also lauded economic, trade and investment collaboration between the two countries, noting that Singapore is the sixth largest trade partner and third biggest investor of Việt Nam.

Singaporean-invested projects are operating effectively and creating jobs for locals in Việt Nam, he said, adding that he is pleased with the two countries’ agreement to open the eight Việt Nam – Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in the central province of Quảng Trị and a software technology centre in the central city of Đà Nẵng, which was reached during PM Lee’s visit.

He proposed the two countries consider new collaboration models in fields such as hi-tech and innovative technology areas and food processing centres across Việt Nam.

For his part, Masagos Zulkifli said that high-level visits between the two countries showed the developing bilateral strategic partnership, with the VSIP system in Vietnamese localities a highlight.

He noted that Việt Nam is becoming an attractive destination to investors and visitors, including those from Singapore.

Sharing his host’ view on the need for environmental protection, he said that pollution affects a country, its neighbours and the whole world.

He suggested that Việt Nam and ASEAN countries need to show a united stance on the issue at the UN conference in Nairobi, Kenya in late 2017.

The viewpoints of ASEAN will be discussed at the 14th ASEAN Environmental Ministers’ Meeting in Brunei in September this year. — VNS