Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has hoped that Vietnam and Singapore will promote their relations in all areas whilst showing his delight that both share the same view on building an ASEAN Community and the East Sea issue.

He met former Prime Minister and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong of Singapore in Hanoi on September 23 on the latter’s working visit to Vietnam .

This is the second visit to Vietnam by Goh Chok Tong since he left the Prime Minister position that looks to bolster the two countries’ strategic partnership; step up wide-ranging bilateral connectivity; and discuss regional and international issues of mutual concerns.

The Vietnamese PM held that the visit is a vivid manifestation of the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership, which has seen stronger connectivity efforts in such areas as finance, trade, investment, and education-training.

Meanwhile, former PM Goh Chok Tong suggested the two countries speed up cooperation in the banking sector to enable Vietnam to mobilise capital from international investment funds in Singapore for its infrastructure development.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore could help Vietnam modernise its banking system to make it easier for its access to international capital sources in Singapore , he said whilst proposing continuous cooperation in aviation, education and tourism.

Appreciating the Singaporean guest’s ideas, PM Nguyen Tan Dung said following the visit, the two countries’ relevant ministries and sectors would soon work to seek Vietnam ’s access to Singapore ’s capital market for infrastructure development as well as increased partnership in the banking, aviation, education and tourism sectors.

He held out hope to continue working together with Singapore in speeding up the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.-VNA