Hanoi,  (VNA) – Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc arrived in Hanoi on late April 28, concluding his trip to Singapore for an official visit and to attend the 32nd ASEAN Summit at the invitation ofhis Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong.

As part of the 4-day trip, the Vietnamese PMpaid a courtesy call to President Halimah Yacob and held talkswith PM Lee Hsien Loong. He also held meetings with Singaporeangroups planning to invest in Vietnam, and with Singaporeanscientist and intellectuals on the application of4.0 technologies in building a constructive government.

He spent time attending the Vietnam –Singapore Business Forum and talking to lecturers and students at the SingaporeManagement University, one of the top establishments supporting start-ups inthe country. His schedule also included a meeting with staff at the VietnameseEmbassy and representatives of the Vietnamese expatriate community, and a touraround the Vietnam’s pavilion at Food & Hotel Asia 2018 in Singapore.

During their talks, PM Phuc and his Singaporean counterpart discussedmeasures to capitalize on opportunities of regional economic links generated bythe Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership(CPTPP) to which both Vietnamand Singaporeare signatories, and the fourth industrial revolution.

They agreed to maintain trustful and close political tiesthrough all-level delegation exchanges, boost defence-security cooperation,with attention paid to practical collaboration between naval, aviation andsearch and rescue forces, and in defence technology. They agreed to coordinatewith each other in handling common securitychallenges such as piracy and terrorism, ensuring navigation security andsafety, as well as cyber security.

The two PMsconcurred that investment and trade cooperation is an important pillar in bilateral ties,andvowed to promote business connectivity, exploit aviation linkage potentials, andstimulating collaboration in finance and stock market management, helpingVietnamese companies list in the Singaporean securitiesmarket.

PM Lee Hsien Loong pledged thatSingapore will continue investing in Vietnam and offering scholarships forVietnamese students

The sidesvowed to enhance bilateral ties at international forums, especially within theframework of the ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum,and the United Nations.

They affirmed theimportance of maintaining peace and stability in the region along with freedomof navigation and overflight inthe East Sea. They reiterated their support for the full and effectiveimplementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC) and early finalisation of an effective and legal binding Code of Conduct(COC) of parties in the waters.

On the occasion, the two PMs adopted ajoint statement on the visit and witnessed the signing of several cooperationdeals.

As part of his Singapore trip, PM Phuc attended the Vietnam – SingaporeBusiness Forum and witnessed the signing of 16 cooperation pacts between firmsof the two countries. He also met and held dialogues with Singaporean leadingcompanies, to whom he stated that Vietnam welcomes Singaporean investors, who would bring to Vietnamthe rich experience of the start-up nation ofSingapore.

Attending the 32nd ASEAN summit, PM Phuc voiced his opinion that promotinginnovation will stimulate ASEAN’s resilience power, particularly economicresilience. He announced that three major cities of Vietnam - Hanoi, Ho ChiMinh City and Da Nang - will be part of the ASEAN network of smart cities under Singapore’s initiative.  

On the sidelines of the summit, Phuc held bilateral meetings with PhilippinePresident Rodrigo Duterte, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and MyanmarPresident Win Myint (Uyn Min), discussing measures and orientations forrelations development.

PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to Singapore and attendance at the 32nd ASEAN Summit has contributed tofostering Vietnam – Singapore cooperation and demonstrated Vietnam’s support forSingapore’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2018.-VNA