Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh made the above suggestion during a reception for Singapore Ambassador Jaya Ratnam on May 26.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh expressed his delight at the positive developments in bilateral relations in all fields, despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the two sides continued to efficiently maintain high-level exchanges, especially the phone call between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in April 2021 to discuss priorities to be promoted in the coming time.
At the reception (Photo: VGP)
Regarding economic relations, continuing the momentum in 2020, Singapore was the largest foreign investor in Vietnam in the first 4 months of 2021 with a total investment capital of over USD4.8 billion, accounting for nearly 39.6% of total investment capital in Vietnam.
In particular, 10 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) in Vietnamese localities, of which 9 have been put into operation, have become the symbol of bilateral economic cooperation which should be further promoted, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his belief that during his term in Vietnam, Ambassador Jaya Ratnam will make a positive contribution to maintaining the momentum of the development of the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership, which develops strongly in all fields; effectively promote bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and soon organize the 15th Vietnam-Singapore Connection Ministerial Conference and the 14th political consultation in 2021.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the two sides need to coordinate in reviewing and promoting the implementation of cooperation contents within the framework of the Vietnam-Singapore Economic Connectivity Agreement, expanding cooperation to areas such as digital economy, smart city, infrastructure development and information technology.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh also asked the Ambassador to promote cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and coordinate in preparing to organize activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership in 2023.
On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh expressed his gratitude to Singapore for supporting Vietnam as ASEAN Chair 2020 and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, adding he hoped that the two sides would continue to closely coordinate at multilateral forums, especially in ASEAN and the United Nations.
Ambassador Jaya Ratnam thanked the Deputy Prime Minister and affirmed that he will do his best to continue fostering the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership to be stronger and more substantive./.