President welcomes Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister

Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception for Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in Hanoi on September 12 on the occasion of his official visit to Vietnam to attend the 20th founding anniversary of the Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in the southern province of Binh Duong.

The President thanked President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean for their warm welcome during his recent State visit to Singapore to discuss the development orientations of the two countries’ relations in the coming time and share regional and international visions on a strong and united ASEAN.

He said PM Lee Hsien Loong agreed with Vietnam’s proposal on enhancing bilateral cooperation in defence, security and fight against organised, cross-border and cyber crimes.

In this spirit, he suggested Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean promote specific collaboration in training, supporting the prevention and early warning of terrorism risks, extremism, and cyber, organised, and trans-national crimes to ensure security in the respective countries.

The President also proposed the two sides actively implement the new economic deals signed during his visit to Singapore, including one between the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and the Government Investment Corporation of Singapore (GIC) and another between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Singapore Business Federation (SBF).

He expressed his pleasure at the strong development of VSIP over the past 20 years, which helps connect the two economies. He said he hopes Singaporean enterprises will actively invest in Vietnam via venture capital funds while sharing information and experience to link Vietnamese firms with the global market.

Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean showed his delight at the thriving strategic partnership between Vietnam and Singapore, especially in the fields of economy, trade and investment.

The development of the seven VSIPs, including two under construction, illustrates Singapore’s interest in the Vietnamese market, he said, noting that the five active ones have attracted 600 companies from across the world and generated jobs for 170,000 workers.

The most important factor that foreign investors, including those from Singapore, eye Vietnamese market is the country’s measures to improve its investment climate, he said.

Singaporean investors are very interested in hi-tech development projects in Vietnam, especially in high added value and highly-applicable industrial sectors, he added.

Regarding the cyber security, Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean said Singapore has invited the Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security to participate in the Asian conference in October to discuss challenges in the field with ASEAN ministers and extra-bloc partners.

He confirmed the outcomes gained during the recent State visit to Singapore by President Tran Dai Quang demonstrate the growing strategic partnership between the two countries and their determination to elevate the bilateral relations to a new height.

Sharing regional and international issues of mutual concern, President Tran Dai Quang spoke highly of Singapore’s positive viewpoints on the East Sea issue and hoped the country will promote its role as a coordinator of ASEAN-China relations in issues related to the enforcement of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean said Singapore pledges to urge the involved parties to implement the DOC and soon reach the signing of the COC as a coordinator of ASEAN-China relations, adding that Singapore supports the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means line with international law.-VNA