The official visit to Vietnam by Speaker of the Singapore Parliament Halimah Yacob will help enhance mutual understanding and trust between the two countries’ senior leaders, and deepen the bilateral Strategic Partnership.

The statement was made by Vietnam’s National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan at their receptions for the Speaker in Hanoi on April 3.

Both of them extended their condolences over the death of the Singaporean founding Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew, affirming that Vietnam always bears in mind the valuable support and the love given by the deceased.

The NA Vice Chairwoman informed the guest of the outcomes of the 21st Meeting of the Women Parliamentarians, a sideline event of the recently-finished 132 nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, which agreed to the appeal for gender equality towards a better world.

Speaking of gender equality achievements Vietnam has gained, the Singaporean Speaker noted that women should be given a stronger role in the making of strategic decisions.

She expressed hope for strengthened bilateral ties for the common benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Meanwhile, VFF President Nhan confirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of treasuring its relations with Singapore and doing its utmost with Singapore to develop the bilateral ties more intensively, practically and effectively.

Singapore is always Vietnam’s reliable partner in economic and investment cooperation, technical assistance, and human resource training, Nhan said.

He continued by suggesting Singapore establish a Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in the Mekong Delta region – Vietnam’s largest granary and major export centre of agro- aquatic products.

Acknowledging the host’s proposal, the Speaker stated that the two countries should also intensify cooperation in education and training, and maintain the regular exchange of delegations as well as people-to-people exchanges.

She suggested the Vietnam Fatherland Front foster its partnership with the Singapore People’s Association in order to deepen the two peoples’ friendship.-VNA