Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on September 14 concluded his
three-day official visit to Singapore at the invitation of
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
During
his stay in Singapore , Trong held talks with his host, who is
Secretary General of the People’s Action Party (PAP) of Singapore ,
and met with Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Chairman
of the PAP Khaw Boon Wan.
The leaders exchanged
views on major orientations and measures to strengthen Vietnam-Singapore
friendship and cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
The two sides reached a high consensus on raising their relation to a
strategic partnership and actively preparing for the signing of an
Agreement on Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Partnership in 2013 when they
mark the 40 th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic ties.
They agreed to boost the regular exchange of delegations at all levels
and the sharing of experience in leadership, management and
socio-economic development as well as improving the role and efficiency
of cooperation mechanisms between the two ruling Parties and
parliaments.
Both sides also agreed to strengthen
cooperation and coordination at regional and international forums,
making active contributions to promoting solidarity and cooperation
within ASEAN and successfully building the ASEAN Community by 2015.
During the visit, the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding
on Financial Cooperation, the Second Protocol Amendment for the Double
Taxation Agreement, and the Agreement on Study Visit Programme and
Executive Education Programme for senior officials of the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV).
Leaving Singapore, the
Vietnamese Party leader sent his thanks to Lee Hsien Loong, expressing
his belief that the elevation of the two countries’ relation to a
strategic partnership will be a firm foundation for boosting the strong,
comprehensive and effective development of bilateral cooperation, for
the interests of each country’s people as well as for peace, stability,
cooperation and development in the region.
On the
same day, Hoang Binh Quan, a member of the CPV Central Committee and
head of its Commission for External Relations, granted an interview to
the press on the visit.
He said that Trong’s visit
affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance and gives high priority to
strengthening ties with regional countries, deepening the friendship and
trust with Singapore , expanding existing cooperation areas between
the two countries, bringing the Vietnam-Singapore friendship and
multi-faceted cooperation to a new height, and enhancing relations
between the CPV and the PAP.
The visit also
reflected Vietnam’s wish to contribute, together with other regional
countries, to building a strong and united ASEAN Community by 2015, for a
Southeast Asia of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, Quan
added.-VNA