Singapore (VNA) – Deputy PrimeMinister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Singaporean Foreign MinisterVivian Balakrishnan shared their positive evaluations of the growth of theVietnam-Singapore strategic partnership during their talks in Singapore on July31, as part of Minh’s ongoing visit to Singapore.

The two sides noted that along with closepolitical relations, Vietnam and Singapore have organised regular delegationexchanges channelled through the Party, State, parliament, and people-to-peopleconnection.

They agreed that Vietnam and Singaporeshare many common strategic interests and visions for security and developmentin each country, as well as important issues in the region.

The two sides will closely coordinate tofully and effectively implement high-level agreements, especially those reachedduring Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Singapore in April 2018. Theywill also continue to increase delegation exchanges, consultations, andexperience sharing on policy planning, thus maintaining strong growth and betterexploiting opportunities to elevate bilateral ties.

Minh and Balakrishnan concurred that thepotential for both sides to further enhance two-way trade is high, as thecountries are members of both regional free trade agreements and the newgeneration of trade connection mechanisms such as the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Minister Balakrishnan lauded Vietnam’sproposal to increase the sales of Vietnamese farm produce such as rice, coffee,pepper, and vegetables on the Singaporean market.

Minh said he highly values Singapore’s roleas a leading investor and trade partner of Vietnam with over 2,000 projectsworth 43 billion USD, including nine Vietnam -Singapore Industrial Parks(VSIP).

Balakrishnan highlighted that Singapore hasbeen investing in Vietnam since the 1990s. He appreciated that Vietnam hascreated optimal conditions for Singaporean firms to operate in the country, promptlysolving obstacles facing them and responding to their proposals.

[Photo: ✃Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh on official visit to S🔯ingapore]

The two sides also agreed to promote collaborationin education and training, labour, tourism, culture, and people-to-people connections.Activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations,including the Vietnamese culture and food day, have helped enhance mutualunderstanding of each other’s nations.

Minh and Balakrishnan pledged that the twosides will continue to work closely at regional and international forums,especially within the ASEAN.

Minh said that Vietnam highly values therole of Singapore as the ASEAN Chair for 2018, vowing that it would supportSingapore in implementing the targets set.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sidesagreed that ASEAN should firmly uphold the common standpoint and agreedprinciples, while continuing to show the viewpoints in its documents.

All parties should ensure the full andeffective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea (DOC), including trust-building measures as well as regulations onrestraint from actions that may complicate the situation or escalate disputes,they underlined.

Minh spoke highly of Singapore’s efforts inspeeding up negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

On the occasion, Minh and Balakrishnan signeda memorandum of understanding between the Vietnamese and Singaporean governmentson operation principles of the Vietnam-Singapore Cooperation Centre.

The current Vietnam – Singapore Training Centrewill be upgraded into the Vietnam-Singapore Cooperation Centre and the dealwill help create the legal framework for the expansion of its operation, fromorganising short-term training courses for the public sector to other areassuch as approving development and urban planning solutions, developmentconsultations, and technical and vocational training. The centre will also helpVietnam in food quarantine, agro-fisheries, cyber security, and communitydevelopment projects.

The same day, Minh paid a courtesy call to SingaporeanPresident Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Minh, his spouse andthe Vietnamese delegation also laid flowers at the President Ho Chi Minh statuein the Asian Civilisations Museum. –VNA