Singapore (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City wants to learn from Singapore’s startupstories, Secretary of the municipal Party’s Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan said on August 27.

Nhan toldSenior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean onAugust 27 during his current visit to Singapore that HCM Citywants to explore Singapore’s experiences in developing technologies, callingfor funding and protecting intellectual property rights for startups.

He suggestedSingapore, Indonesia and the Vietnamese southern hub together take turns holding an innovative startupfair of Southeast Asia to share experience, develop startups and call for investment.

Teo appreciatedNhan’s proposal, saying it is critical to bolster cooperation in innovativestartup capacity building and Singapore is ready to share experience with Vietnam in thismatter.

He advisedVietnam to focus on protecting intellectual property rights and said Singapore plans to establish a centre forinternational intellectual property registration.

On the sameday, Nhan met withSingaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan during which the guest expressed his delight at the strong growthof Vietnam – Singapore relations over the years, not only benefiting both countries but also contributing to ASEAN’ssolidarity, security and development.

Nhan expectedthe minister and government of Singapore to back thedevelopment of a strategic relationship between HCM City and Singapore. HCMCity wants to work with partners from Singapore to create relations with long-term vision and practical interests for both sides, he said, adding thatthe city will make efforts to develop ASEAN as the global hub for innovativestartups in the 21st century.

Balakrishnan,for his part, thanked the Government of Vietnam for supporting Singapore investors and businesses andpraised Vietnam for its abundant and quality workforce, which is a vital engine for national growth.

He affirmed Singapore’s willingness to share technologies with HCM City in urban development and planning andto invite Vietnamese experts to visit and explore Singapore’s experience.

Secretary ofthe HCM City Party’s Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan took the occasion to visit theNational University of Singapore (NUS) to explore how the university develops startupsupport policies and discuss cooperation between the two sides.

He also metwith Chairman of the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities Lee Tzu Yang andlaid flowers at the PresidentHo Chi Minh statue at the AsianCivilisations Museum. –VNA