Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh’s official visit to Singapore from July 30 is expected to deepen the cooperative and strategic partnership between the two countries, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tao Thanh Huong said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. (Photo: VNA)

According to the Ambassador, during his stay, Deputy PM Minh will meet with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and hold talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan.

The meetings look to discuss measures to implement agreements reached during Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Singapore in April, accelerate bilateral cooperation, and promote collaboration between the two countries in the ASEAN framework as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interests.

Particularly, Minh and his spouse will attend the Vietnam Culture Day in Singapore to mark 45^th anniversary of the diplomatic relations, Huong said, adding that the event is a vivid illustration for the joint efforts in enhancing mutual understanding and cultural exchange.

Ambassador Huong affirmed that the Vietnam-Singapore bond is developing in a practical and effective manner in all pillars of the strategic partnership. In that context, the visit by Deputy PM Minh will continue to nurture the bilateral relations, meeting the needs and interests of both peoples, and contributing to regional and global peace, sustainability, and development.

Vietnam and Singapore are celebrating 45^th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and 5th anniversary of strategic partnership.

In the past more than four decades, the bilateral ties have been fostered by generations of leaders and people from both sides.

Regular exchanges and meetings at all level have taken place, Huong said, adding that Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Vietnam twice in 2017, one in March and the other in November to attend the APEC Leader’s Week.

This year, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid an official visit to Singapore and attend the 32^nd ASEAN Summit in April, and he will visit the country again to attend the 33^rd ASEAN Summit in November.

Singapore has become Vietnam’s most important economic partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with more than 2,000 investment projects worth USD 43 billion, and two-way trade reaching USD 8.3 billion in 2017./.

VNF/VNA