SINGAPORE - Singapore and Vietnam are taking ties to a “new era”, committing on March 12 to establishing a wide-ranging pact that will deepen cooperation in security and defence as well as emerging areas such as renewable energy and the digital economy.
The new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) will be an upgrade of Singapore and Vietnam’s Strategic Partnership established in 2013 and builds on the Green-Digital Economic Partnership set up in 2023.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at a joint press conference with visiting Vietnamese leader To Lam: “This CSP is significant for Singapore because it is our first with an Asean member state. It reflects the high level of trust between Singapore and Vietnam, the good work that we have done together, and the potential to do even more.”
PM Wong added that the CSP “sets out how both countries will work together in strategic sectors areas like defence and security, combatting transnational crime, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief”.
“Importantly, it also reflects our shared commitment to deepen cooperation in new and emerging areas including renewable energy, carbon credits, subsea cable connectivity, and the digital economy,” he said.
At the conference held at Parliament House, PM Wong and Mr Lam, who is the Communist Party of Vietnam’s General Secretary, agreed to focus special attention on a range of areas.
In addition to working closely on defence and security, such as combatting transnational crimes, both sides will strengthen cooperation in international and regional forums, and support each other on issues of common interest and concern, especially in furthering the process of building an Asean community.
Both countries will also ramp up cooperation in developing talent and stronger people-to-people ties, collaborate further in technical and vocational education and training, and implement the Singapore-Vietnam Innovation Talent Exchange Programme.
Reinforcing economic cooperation and collaboration in mutually beneficial areas is also important. This includes the 20 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks across 14 provinces, as well as collaboration in food safety and security, cross-border QR code payments, and in capital markets.
Both sides will also work closer in the energy and green sector, towards the common goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, and strengthen cooperation on digital connectivity, cross-border data flows, cyber security and artificial intelligence.
The foreign ministries of both countries have been assigned to develop a plan of action with the relevant ministries and agencies, the two sides said in a joint statement.
At an official lunch for Mr Lam held at the Conrad Centennial Singapore, PM Wong said that both countries were taking their cooperation to a “new era” with the elevation of their relationship.
“We will work closely together to make concrete progress across these forward-looking areas. And our ability to do so will position both our countries well to navigate the complexities of an increasingly turbulent global environment,” he said.
ST20250312_202549900170/awcsp12/Alyssa Woo/Jason Quah Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Vietnam?s top leader, To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, arriving for an official lunch the Conrad Centennial Singapore, on Mar 12, 2025. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Vietnam’s top leader To Lam arriving for an official lunch at the Conrad Centennial Singapore on March 12.ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
PM Wong added that Vietnam’s emphasis on sustainable development, green growth and digital transformation aligns with Singapore’s own priorities.
Expanding bilateral cooperation in the renewable energy sector and digital economy will also set the foundation for regional initiatives, including the Asean Power Grid and Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement.
In his reply toast, Mr Lam said that the CSP “reaffirms our shared commitment to a robust and dynamic future”.
He said: “It provides a strong foundation and a powerful impetus to elevate our bilateral relations to new heights - fulfilling the aspirations of our leaders and people alike.”
Mr Lam, who is in Singapore on a three-day official visit, added he was deeply impressed by Singapore’s remarkable growth, forward-thinking vision and leadership in pioneering the key transformations in areas such as the green economy, sustainable development, digital transformation, energy transition and smart cities.
He said that since Vietnam’s accession to Asean in 1995, Singapore has remained a key economic partner and a steadfast companion in its journey of reform and progress.
Underlining Singapore’s longstanding friendship with Vietnam, PM Wong said the first exchange of visits between the two countries by then PM Lee Kuan Yew and then General Secretary Do Muoi paved the way for the close partnership, which has since been nurtured by subsequent generations of leaders.
PM Wong said he had met Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh several times at regional and multilateral forums, and noted having “a good conversation” over the phone with Mr Lam in 2024.
“Such regular interaction is testament to the closeness of our relationship,” said PM Wong, who added that he was looking forward to his first official visit to Vietnam as Prime Minister towards the end of March.
Mr To Lam is in Singapore on a three-day official visit.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
A new orchid hybrid was also named in honour of Mr Lam earlier in the morning at the National Orchid Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Mr Lam became Vietnam’s top leader on Aug 3, 2024, shortly after the death of his predecessor Nguyen Phu Trong in July.
Bilateral trade between Singapore and Vietnam has grown over the past decade, with the value of bilateral trade goods reaching $31.6 billion in 2024.
As at December 2024, Singapore was Vietnam’s top foreign investor, with FDI investments valued at US$10.2 billion (S$13.65 billion).
Vietnam’s exports to Singapore also increased significantly during the same period, said PM Wong.
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