Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hoà Bình (R) meets Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in Singapore on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Vịnh

SINGAPORE — Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hoà Bình met with Singaporean leaders on Monday, highlighting the importance of the countries’ partnership to each side’s interests, as well as to the solidarity and development of the ASEAN Community.

The Deputy PM also paid a courtesy call to President Halimah Yacob, had talks with his counterpart Heng Swee Keat, and met with Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean. 
The activities were part of his official visit to Singapore from September 22 to 24.
At the events, the Singaporean leaders highly valued Việt Nam’s socio-economic development achievements and rising global stature.
Deputy PM Bình said Việt Nam attaches importance to developing co-operation with Singapore on the basis of mutual respect and benefits. Both sides agreed that trade and investment partnerships remain a highlight in bilateral relations.
He said amidst growing protectionism and trade frictions among big countries, Việt Nam and Singapore should continue enhancing connectivity and better capitalise on their economies’ complementary nature.
He also welcomed Singaporean firms’ engagement in the equitisation of Việt Nam’s State-owned enterprises and their expansion of investment and co-operation in infrastructure, logistics, finance, banking, supporting industries, and start-up and innovation promotion.
The Singaporean leaders said their country is ready to assist Việt Nam in developing smart cities based on local advantages.
The two sides also agreed to strengthen connections in agriculture, transport, education-training, tourism, and people-to-people exchange.
At the meetings, they valued bilateral collaboration in defence, security and law.
The hosts expressed their hope for increased exchange between Vietnamese and Singaporean military forces, and for stronger co-ordination in search and rescue activities, and fight against trans-national crimes, especially drug crimes.
The two countries will also foster co-operation in fighting corruption and mutual legal assistance while reinforcing ties between their legislative, executive and judicial agencies.
Regarding international and regional issues, Deputy PM Bình and the Singaporean leaders said the two nations share many common values and interests relevant to peace, stability and development. Both sides wish to enhance their trust and co-operation, particularly amidst the complicated situation in the region and growing competition among big countries.
The Singaporean side said they consider Việt Nam an example of successful development. They also spoke highly of Việt Nam’s support for multilateral trade systems, along with its contributions to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). 
They expressed willingness to join Việt Nam and other countries in accelerating negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
As for recent developments in the East Sea, both sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the waters. They called for the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and the acceleration of talks to finalise an effective and substantive code of conduct in the waters in line with international law.
Also on Monday, Deputy PM Bình had a working session with Enterprise Singapore, visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in the country. — VNS