SINGAPORE — Viet Nam will actively co-ordinate with Singapore to implement their strategic partnership and ensure that bilateral ties develop in a smooth and effective manner, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân said yesterday.

In talks held with her Singaporean counterpart Tan Chuan-Jin in Singapore yesterday, she also expressed hope that both countries would maintain the exchange of high-ranking state, executive and legislative bodies, as also people-to-people contacts.

She affirmed Việt Nam’s consistent policy of attaching great attention to developing its strategic partnership with Singapore. 

She suggested that the two sides work closely to prepare for celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2018. 

Việt Nam will support Singapore in performing its duties as ASEAN Chair in 2018, she said, adding that she hopes Singapore will collaborate with other ASEAN members to maintain the bloc’s common stance, solidarity, unity and central role in the region. 

Referring to the contentious East Sea issue, Ngân stressed that Việt Nam highly valued Singapore’s stance, expressing her belief that as the ASEAN Chair in 2018, Singapore would continue raising its voice on the issue, and help accelerate the building of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), thus promoting healthy and sustainable ASEAN-China relations. 

Defence and security co-operation was an important pillar of their bilateral strategic partnership, Ngan said, proposing that the two countries optimise existing consultation and dialogue mechanisms, especially the Defence Strategic Dialogue at the deputy ministerial level, while expanding co-operation to broader areas. 

Extradition treaty

Both sides should also negotiate for the signing of a bilateral extradition treaty and an agreement on transfer of sentenced persons, the NA Chairwoman said.

She also said the two countries should step up consultation and promote each other’s initiatives while sharing experiences in organising ASEAN military-defence meetings, especially the ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM), ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plus. 

For his part, Tan Chuan-Jin briefed his guest on Singapore’s development situation as well as the country’s efforts to protect the environment, ensure sustainable development and create jobs for the youth 

Việt Nam and Singapore have enjoyed growing ties in all fields, including economy, investment, education and training, he said, expressing the hope that Ngân’s visit would help attract more Singaporean businesses to Việt Nam. 

Singapore was currently the ninth largest trade partner and third biggest investor in Việt Nam, Ngân said, adding that the Framework Agreement on Connectivity between the two countries played an important role in coordinating links between the two sides. 

She said the two sides should work closely together to expand collaboration in six major areas: finance; information technology and communications; education and training; transportation; investment, trade and services; and construction of a software park in Đà Nẵng City as well as a Việt Nam-Singapore Industrial Park in Quảng Trị Province. 

She also asked Singapore to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese products in the Singaporean market, especially agricultural, forestry and fisheries, processed food, footwear, wood products and construction material. 

Việt Nam and Singapore should consider signing of a labour deal and supporting vocational training for Vietnamese workers, while expanding co-operation in tourism and aviation industries, she said. 

She said Việt Nam was willing to work with Singapore in preparing for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a deal to replace the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). 

Mutual support

The two sides recognised the mutual support they have enjoyed at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums. 

They agreed that along with closer co-operation among specialised agencies, both sides should foster friendship among parliamentarians. 

Việt Nam has set up a Việt Nam-Singapore Parliamentary Friendship Group, Ngân noted. 

Tan Chuan-Jin pledged to continue working to strengthen the partnership between the two countries and their parliaments. 
 

Following the talks, the Singaporean Parliament Speaker hosted a banquet for his Vietnamese counterpart.

Later yesterday, the NA Chairwoman Ngân and her entourage left for Australia on an official visit at the invitation of the Australian Parliament and Government. — VNS