The Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organisations and the Central Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association hosted a ceremony on August 30 to celebrate the 45^th anniversary of Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic ties (August 1, 1973) in the northern port city of Hai Phong.

President of the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association, Vu Viet Ngoan speaks at the ceremony on August 30. (Photos: Thuy Linh/VNF)

Opening the ceremony, Head of the Prime Minister's Economics Advisory Board, President of the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association, Vu Viet Ngoan said over the past 45 years, the Vietnam-Singapore relationship has continuously moved forward with marked progresses made in cooperation in various areas, ranging from politics to economy, trade, investment, national defence and security, education-training, and tourism.

Singapore is one of the first ASEAN nations with which Vietnam has set up the Strategic Partnership, he said, noting that the two countries have shared similar viewpoints and strategic visions on many major issues such as the regional structure, ASEAN’s central role, and the advocacy of multilateralism and the rule of law in a changing world.

Successes in bilateral economic, trade and investment collaboration have made Vietnam and Singapore indispensable partners of each other, the diplomat said.

Singapore is the leading ASEAN trade partner and the eighth largest trade partner globally of Vietnam with over 1,800 projects worth USD 43 billion, including nine Vietnam -Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP), he said, adding that Singapore’s projects have played a key role in Vietnam’s regional economic transformation.

In his remarks at the event, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee Nguyen Van Thanh thanked the Government and people of Singapore for their valuable and effective support for Hai Phong, and Vietnam in general.

Singapore holds with the largest number of FDI projects in Hai Phong, operating some 30 projects worth a total of nearly USD 700 million. Chief among these is the Urban, Industry, and Services Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park Hai Phong which has attracted a number of multinational corporations such as Nipro Pharma and Fuji Xerox, Thanh briefed.

The Government of Singapore has offered Hai Phong several scholarships for training courses on sustainable urban planning and public management, while the port city has also welcomed a number of student delegations from Singapore on field trips to Vietnam, he said.

Thanh urged the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association in Hai Phong to further promote the two countries’ Strategic Partnership alongside Hai Phong-Singapore relations to local people, including organising activities to consolidate and develop multifaceted collaborations between people of the two sides. It must also actively take part in activities hosted by the Embassy of Singapore and the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association, he added.

Chargé d’Affaires of the Singaporean Embassy in Vietnam Tan Weiming.

For his part, Chargé d’Affaires of the Singaporean Embassy in Vietnam Tan Weiming said 2018 is a significant year for Vietnam and Singapore as the two nations celebrate the 45^th year of their diplomatic ties. Singapore and Vietnam have shared many interests and worked closely with each other within ASEAN forums on various issues, including discussions on free trade and security threats.

Economic cooperation is among the key pillars of bilateral relations. Singapore is the third largest investor in Vietnam. The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) are a solid symbol of the close economic ties between the two countries. The first VSIP was established in 1996. Since then, six more VSIPs have opened up in Vietnam, attracting more than USD 10 billion in FDI and creating over 174,000 jobs.

Delegates pose for a group photo.

In celebration of the 45^th anniversary of Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic ties, the Central Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association will hold a special exhibition in Singapore to introduce Vietnam and its people of Vietnam. In addition to the cultural exchange activities, the association will act as a bridge to promote investment and business for businesses of the two countries and organise policy dialogue between the Government and enterprises in both countries./.

VNF