An official ceremony to welcome Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam was held in Hanoi yesterday, April 23, with talks between President Truong Tan Sang and his counterpart taking place on the same day.
On bilateral co-operation, the two leaders expressed great pleasure in the way Vietnam-Singapore relations have developed in recent years. The two leaders expressed their joy at the development of economic, investment and trade co-operation between the two countries that had reached high levels and moving fast to a strategic joint relationship.
The two leaders agreed that regular visits by high-ranking officials had helped deepen ties between the two countries. They also expressed their pleasure at the two countries' co-operation in national defence and security and agreed that the two sides would soon sign expansion of the agreement on co-operation in the fight against trans-national crime.
President Sang spoke highly of the Singaporean leader's decision to choose Vietnam as his first destination after taking office, saying that it is a vivid manifestation of the friendship and comprehensive co-operation enjoyed by Vietnam and Singapore.
The Vietnamese State leader praised Singapore's recent achievements, expressing his belief that the country would harvest greater successes as a developed nation and an economic-financial and scientific and technological centre in the region.
President Sang express thanks toward Singapore for supporting Vietnam's bid to join the UN Human Rights Council in the 2014-2016 term and UN Security Counsel non-permanent member in the 2020-2021 term.
President Yam said that Singaporean businesses were keen to invest in Vietnam and hoped that Singapore will be Vietnam's top investor and trade partner.
The two leaders agreed to boost co-operation in education and training, construction and agriculture.
They affirmed that the two countries would continue to boost co-operation internationally with the help of APEC and ASEM, as well as the ASEAN Community, due to be established in 2015.
President Yam shared the views with Vietnam on the East Sea issue, and agreed to enhance community co-ordination on maritime security and freedom, in compliance with international laws, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).
He also said Singapore favoured the building of a Code of Conduct on the East Sea (COC).
During the five-day state visit to Vietnam, the Singaporean leader and Vietnam president Truong Tan Sang witnessed in central Province of Quang Ngai the ceremony of granting the approval license of investment plans to the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park, a joint venture between Singapore's Sembcorp group and Vietnam's Becamex Industrial Development Corporation.
President Tony Tan Keng Yam also held a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. The two leaders agreed the visit of Singaporean president to Vietnam brought relations between the two countries to a new height. The Prime Minister said there was huge potential for further co-operation between the two countries.
In addition to co-operation on trade and investment, PM Dung said the two countries should enhance ties in education and training, security and national defence.
