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| The State President and his wife host a reception to welcome the President of Singapore and her spouse, in Hanoi on October 17 (Photo: VNA) |
The news site channelnewsasia.com reported that President Halimah Yacob and State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc reaffirmed the long-standing and good friendship, and strong and wide-ranging economic cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam.
The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in new areas such as digitalization and cybersecurity, green economy including renewable energy and carbon credits, sustainable infrastructure, as well as orientation training.
Meanwhile, The Straits Times reported that at a meeting with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President Halimah Yacob emphasized the importance of Singapore-Vietnam relations, with the two countries approaching the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023.
President Halimah Yacob affirmed that Singapore and Vietnam are like-minded and trusting partners. Both countries are committed to strengthening the solidarity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), promoting an open and rules-based order and deepening regional economic integration. The two sides have also worked closely on issues such as public health and sustainable development through ASEAN.
President Halimah Yacob and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnessed the exchange and signing of 4 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), two of which are on energy cooperation and carbon credits; an MoU related to the exchange information on cyber security, cyber attacks and cybercrime; and an MoU on cooperation in technical and vocational education and training.
President Halimah Yacob hopes that when global travel is resumed, the two countries can continue to increase exchanges in education, tourism and culture. She said Singapore's educational institutions would like to learn more about Vietnam through exchange programs and study tours.
The President of Singapore said that sustainable development is a key promising area of cooperation between the two countries, requiring the governments and businesses of the two countries to promote the will and resources of the two sides.
President Halimah Yacob added that cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, carbon credits and green finance will enable both Singapore and Vietnam to achieve their goals in the transition to green energy.
With Singapore setting a net-zero emissions target by mid-century and Vietnam announcing a similar target by 2050, the signing of the MoU on carbon credit cooperation aims to develop bilateral and legal requirements for the transfer of carbon credits and the identification of potential carbon credit projects.
Singapore's Second Minister of Trade and Industry Tan See Leng assessed that the MoU on energy cooperation would pave the way for greater cross-border electricity trade, and development and financing of low-carbon technologies; while the MoU on carbon credit cooperation emphasizes the two countries' shared commitment to jointly implement pilot carbon credit projects in accordance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The two leaders also witnessed the investment license awarding ceremony for Singapore's Sembcorp joint venture to develop the 12th Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) located in Can Tho city./.