Singaporean Ambassador Catherine Wong Siow Ping (left) receives a donation of Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction test kits from Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung in May (Photo courtesy of the Singaporean Embassy) Hanoi (VNA) - To markSingapore’s 55th National Day (August 9, 2020), Singaporean Ambassador to VietnamCatherine Wong Siow Ping writes about Singapore’s growing Strategic Partnershipwith Vietnam, and how both countries have worked together to overcomechallenges.
Singapore celebrates 55 years ofindependence this year. It is an important occasion that we traditionallycelebrate with a big National Day Parade. However, due to the COVID-19pandemic, parade elements will be decentralised and streamed live on televisionand the internet.
Indeed, the pandemic has causedmajor disruptions all over the world. This once-in-a-generation crisis haschanged the way we live, work and play. To tackle the pandemic, Singapore imposeda “circuit breaker” from April 7 to June 1, 2020, consisting of stringentrestrictions on large-scale social gatherings. Having controlled the spread ofthe virus over the last two months, we have started gradually opening up oureconomy and society. Retail stores and restaurants have re-opened, whileinternational passengers can transit through Changi Airport. At the same time,safety remains a top priority, with safe distancing requirements andrestrictions on social gatherings in place.
A key pillar of our COVID-19strategy is taking an active and rigorous testing approach. We are increasingour testing capacity from around 8,000 tests per day currently to 40,000 testsper day by the end of the year. We are proactively testing population groups thatare deemed vulnerable or have a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19, includingforeign workers in dormitories, pre-school staff, and staff and residents ofresidential homes for seniors. While this has led to more cases being detected,it enables us to identify and ring fence new cases early, thereby preventingfurther spread of the virus. We are also strengthening our contact tracingcapabilities by leveraging on technology. As a result, the number of new casesin the community has declined. Most importantly, we have kept the mortalityrate low at less than 0.1 percent – among the lowest in the world. Thisreflects the high quality of Singapore’s healthcare system. Looking ahead, weare building up our vaccine manufacturing capacity by investing heavily inresearch and development.
Through these efforts, Singaporeremains a safe hub for business, investment, and trade. We remain committed tokeeping our seaports and airports open, and to continue our critical role infacilitating global trade in essential goods and services. We are also lookingto progressively reopen our borders with the necessary health safeguards inplace.
During this challenging period, Vietnamhas been a valuable partner and friend to Singapore – a testament to the closeties built over the years. We are very grateful to the Vietnamese governmentagencies and private organisations that donated medical equipment to Singapore.Despite the pandemic, we are continuing to strengthen the Vietnam-SingaporeStrategic Partnership. For instance, we are actively collaborating to keepmarkets open and supply chains connected. Agri-trade is increasing, withdeepening cooperation on rice and other food products. Notwithstanding theglobal economic gloom, Vietnam remains an attractive market for Singapore.Singapore is Vietnam’s third largest foreign investor, with cumulativeinvestment of more than 47 billion USD in more than 2,000 projects.
Our bilateral trade has alsosteadily grown to reach 22.7 billion USD in 2019. Singapore companies are keento partner with Vietnam in new areas such as the digital consumer and lifestylesector, high-tech manufacturing, digital start-ups, renewable energy, andsustainable urban solutions. To facilitate these growing trade and businesslinks, Vietnam and Singapore are discussing how to reopen borders for essentialbusiness travel safely and gradually, when the time is right.
Singapore and Vietnam alsocooperate extensively in ASEAN. As the Chair of ASEAN during this time ofunprecedented challenges, Vietnam’s theme of “Cohesive and Responsive” is mostfitting. With all ten ASEAN member states affected by COVID-19, battling thepandemic has become a key priority. Even as the pandemic has disrupted physicalASEAN meetings, Vietnam has successfully hosted key summits virtually,including the Special ASEAN and ASEAN Plus Three Summits on COVID-19 and the36th ASEAN Summit.
These meetings produced concreterecommendations for collective action, including dealing with the pandemic,enhancing regional economic integration and ensuring supply chain connectivity.Singapore will continue our steadfast support for Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship.We are confident that under Vietnam’s leadership, ASEAN will make furtherprogress this year. In particular, amid the regional economic downturn, it isimportant for ASEAN to show the world that we are open for business, with astable and integrated economy conducive for foreign investment. We thereforehope the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will be signed this year.This will send a resounding message of ASEAN unity and centrality, whileboosting confidence in the stability and integration of the regionaleconomy. It will also aid ASEAN’s economic recovery from the impact ofCOVID-19.
As we navigate these unchartedwaters, Singapore will continue to work with Vietnam to pursue furthercooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to accelerate our recoveryfrom the pandemic and ultimately improve the lives of the people of bothcountries./.
Singapore celebrates 55 years ofindependence this year. It is an important occasion that we traditionallycelebrate with a big National Day Parade. However, due to the COVID-19pandemic, parade elements will be decentralised and streamed live on televisionand the internet.
Indeed, the pandemic has causedmajor disruptions all over the world. This once-in-a-generation crisis haschanged the way we live, work and play. To tackle the pandemic, Singapore imposeda “circuit breaker” from April 7 to June 1, 2020, consisting of stringentrestrictions on large-scale social gatherings. Having controlled the spread ofthe virus over the last two months, we have started gradually opening up oureconomy and society. Retail stores and restaurants have re-opened, whileinternational passengers can transit through Changi Airport. At the same time,safety remains a top priority, with safe distancing requirements andrestrictions on social gatherings in place.
A key pillar of our COVID-19strategy is taking an active and rigorous testing approach. We are increasingour testing capacity from around 8,000 tests per day currently to 40,000 testsper day by the end of the year. We are proactively testing population groups thatare deemed vulnerable or have a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19, includingforeign workers in dormitories, pre-school staff, and staff and residents ofresidential homes for seniors. While this has led to more cases being detected,it enables us to identify and ring fence new cases early, thereby preventingfurther spread of the virus. We are also strengthening our contact tracingcapabilities by leveraging on technology. As a result, the number of new casesin the community has declined. Most importantly, we have kept the mortalityrate low at less than 0.1 percent – among the lowest in the world. Thisreflects the high quality of Singapore’s healthcare system. Looking ahead, weare building up our vaccine manufacturing capacity by investing heavily inresearch and development.
Through these efforts, Singaporeremains a safe hub for business, investment, and trade. We remain committed tokeeping our seaports and airports open, and to continue our critical role infacilitating global trade in essential goods and services. We are also lookingto progressively reopen our borders with the necessary health safeguards inplace.
During this challenging period, Vietnamhas been a valuable partner and friend to Singapore – a testament to the closeties built over the years. We are very grateful to the Vietnamese governmentagencies and private organisations that donated medical equipment to Singapore.Despite the pandemic, we are continuing to strengthen the Vietnam-SingaporeStrategic Partnership. For instance, we are actively collaborating to keepmarkets open and supply chains connected. Agri-trade is increasing, withdeepening cooperation on rice and other food products. Notwithstanding theglobal economic gloom, Vietnam remains an attractive market for Singapore.Singapore is Vietnam’s third largest foreign investor, with cumulativeinvestment of more than 47 billion USD in more than 2,000 projects.
Our bilateral trade has alsosteadily grown to reach 22.7 billion USD in 2019. Singapore companies are keento partner with Vietnam in new areas such as the digital consumer and lifestylesector, high-tech manufacturing, digital start-ups, renewable energy, andsustainable urban solutions. To facilitate these growing trade and businesslinks, Vietnam and Singapore are discussing how to reopen borders for essentialbusiness travel safely and gradually, when the time is right.
Singapore and Vietnam alsocooperate extensively in ASEAN. As the Chair of ASEAN during this time ofunprecedented challenges, Vietnam’s theme of “Cohesive and Responsive” is mostfitting. With all ten ASEAN member states affected by COVID-19, battling thepandemic has become a key priority. Even as the pandemic has disrupted physicalASEAN meetings, Vietnam has successfully hosted key summits virtually,including the Special ASEAN and ASEAN Plus Three Summits on COVID-19 and the36th ASEAN Summit.
These meetings produced concreterecommendations for collective action, including dealing with the pandemic,enhancing regional economic integration and ensuring supply chain connectivity.Singapore will continue our steadfast support for Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship.We are confident that under Vietnam’s leadership, ASEAN will make furtherprogress this year. In particular, amid the regional economic downturn, it isimportant for ASEAN to show the world that we are open for business, with astable and integrated economy conducive for foreign investment. We thereforehope the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will be signed this year.This will send a resounding message of ASEAN unity and centrality, whileboosting confidence in the stability and integration of the regionaleconomy. It will also aid ASEAN’s economic recovery from the impact ofCOVID-19.
As we navigate these unchartedwaters, Singapore will continue to work with Vietnam to pursue furthercooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to accelerate our recoveryfrom the pandemic and ultimately improve the lives of the people of bothcountries./.
VNA
