Singapore (VNA) – Party General Secretary To Lam on March 12 visited the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy under the National University of Singapore where he delivered a policy speech on Vietnam’s science, technology, innovation and digital transformation policy in a new era, and opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
Lam, who is on an official visit to Singapore, emphasised that the two countries are experiencing unprecedented rapid changes in the digital era and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, marked by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things, that all are reshaping the way people live, work, and connect.
He told participants that Vietnam identifies science, technology, and innovation as key drivers of national development. For decades, the country has regarded science and technology as a top national policy and a strategic pillar for industrialisation and modernisation. Vietnam aims to become a modern industrialised country by 2030 and a high-income developed nation by 2045. To achieve these goals, there is no alternative but to accelerate the development of science, technology, and innovation, alongside implementing the national digital transformation strategy, he said.
This is the "golden key" for the nation to overcome the middle-income trap, avoid the risk of falling behind, and keep pace with the times, the top leader stressed, adding that advancing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation is not an option but a necessity to realise its aspirations.
Lam highlighted the importance of strengthening the Party’s comprehensive leadership, mobilising the collective strength of the entire political system, and ensuring the active participation of entrepreneurs, businesses, and the public in this field.
Safeguarding national sovereignty in cyberspace, and ensuring cybersecurity, data security, and information safety for organisations and individuals are fundamental, inseparable requirements throughout the process of scientific and technological development and digital transformation, he said.
Emphasising that Vietnam and Singapore share many similarities and well complement each other, the General Secretary stated Singapore excels in advanced technology, management expertise, and investment capital, while Vietnam has the advantages of a large workforce, an expansive market, and significant growth potential. These factors provide a solid foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations, he confirmed.
In this context, Lam proposed several key areas for enhanced cooperation the coming period, covering scientific research, along with comprehensive partnerships between internationally accredited research institutes and universities.
The Party chief also stressed the importance of innovation cooperation to optimise and complement each country's strengths, thereby creating breakthrough values. Both sides should jointly research, test, and implement digitalisation solutions to improve quality of life and enhance public administration efficiency, while collaborating in developing scientific and technological human resources, promoting technology transfer, and commercialising scientific research, he added.
Vietnam places great importance on its partnership with Singapore and other friendly nations and remains committed to actively contributing to a cohesive, creative, and prosperous ASEAN, General Secretary Lam affirmed.
He said he believed that with strategic vision, strong political will, and deep cooperation, Vietnam, Singapore, and others in the region will achieve even greater accomplishments in the future. Together, they will continue to write the success story of Southeast Asia in the 21st century—an ever-evolving Southeast Asia, economically and technologically self-reliant, and committed to sustainable development for the happiness of its people.
During the event, the Party chief also addressed key issues raised by participants, including policies for attracting talent and fostering sci-tech innovation to drive national development.
In his welcoming address, Professor Tan Eng Chye, President of the National University of Singapore (NUS), underscored the significance of the Vietnamese leader’s official visit, calling it a milestone in bilateral relations. With the fresh upgrading of their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, he said it is necessary for the countries to secure stronger and more substantive cooperation in areas of mutual strength and potential.
NUS boasts extensive collaborations with universities worldwide, including in Vietnam, particularly in some realms such as leadership improvement and startup development, Tan noted. He expressed a hope for further partnerships between Vietnamese and Singaporean institutions serving the growth of their respective nations.
Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean spoke with pride about Vietnamese students at NUS, describing them as industrious learners. He noted that General Secretary Lam’s visit would serve as an inspiration for these students to continue striving for academic excellence.
Minister Teo also commended Vietnam’s remarkable socio-economic and international integration achievements in recent years. He noted that its poverty rate has declined significantly, while economic growth has been increasingly driven by science, technology, and innovation. These accomplishments provide a strong foundation for Vietnam to realise its strategic vision, ushering in a new era of national development and prosperity, he assessed.
Looking ahead, the Singaporean official expressed his wish for continued and effective cooperation between the two countries.
In the witness of Party General Secretary To Lam, the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy under the NUS exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on training and fostering leadership and management officials.
Earlier, the two sides signed a commitment to continue to effectively implement the training programme for potential leadership officials, in alignment with the development goals, tasks, and requirements of Vietnam. This will contribute to concretising and deepening the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the new era.
