The Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership has been creating conditions for bilateral cooperation to strongly develop in all fields, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Hai Hau has affirmed.

In his recent interview with a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Singapore, the ambassador said during 2013, which marks the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic ties, the two countries have witnessed a series of events from politics and economics to cultural diplomacy and people-to-people exchange.

He said that the flourishing political ties were marked by a visit to Singapore by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in late May, during which he put forth an impressive message on building strategic trust that contributes to peace, security and stability in the region and the world. PM Dung had meetings with businesses to boost bilateral relations, especially in economics.

Another important event was Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s September visit to Vietnam, with both sides reaching a consensus on establishing a strategic partnership, he added.

Regarding economic relations, during Lee’s visit the two sides kicked off the construction of the fifth Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in the central province of Quang Ngai, the ambassador said.

In the first 11 months of 2013, Singaporean companies registered to invest 4.3 billion USD in Vietnam, raising their foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country to 29.2 billion USD. Singapore’s investment accounts for one fifth of Vietnam’s total newly registered FDI in the year.

Two-way trade between the two countries in the first three quarters hit 12.6 billion SGD (10 billion USD), with Vietnam’s exports to Singapore up 13 percent year-on-year.

Relations between the two countries’ ministries and localities as well as people-to-people exchanges have seen an eventful 2013, Hau said, adding that the two countries have organised many cultural activities to mark the 40 years of their diplomatic ties.

Regarding the prospects of the bilateral ties in 2014, the ambassador stated that the establishment of the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership has created a legal foundation for ministries and agencies of both sides to set out orientations, measures and action programmes for their cooperation in the coming year.

In addition, this framework will boost connectivity between the two nations, he added.

2014 will be a transitional year for ASEAN member countries to prepare for the formation of the ASEAN Community and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, in which both Vietnam and Singapore are parties, that will be signed soon, Hau said.

They will provide a favourable environment for the two countries to boost their all-around ties next year, especially in economics, trade and investment, he concluded.-VNA