Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung separately met with Ambassadors Simon Wong Wie Kuen of Singapore and John Nielsen of Denmark in Hanoi on Feb. 16.

In a meeting with Ambassador Simon Wong Wie Kuen, PM Dung expressed thanks for contributions made by the Prime Minister of Singapore to success in 2010 when Vietnam held the ASEAN Chair.

PM Dung expressed his pleasure with development in the countries’ trade over the past year, hoping for more achievements in bilateral cooperation in the future.

Singapore was Vietnam’s largest foreign investor in 2010, with a total capital of over 4 billion USD. Almost all projects of Singapore brought efficiency, contributing to promoting the link between the two economies.

The PM applauded the Singaporean leaders’ views for peace, stability in the region and on the East Sea, and asked both governments to continue maintaining a dialogue mechanism on security, politics and diplomacy.

He spoke highly of the Ambassador’s efforts to promote cooperation programmes and projects between the two countries.

He said he wanted the Ambassador and his Embassy to continue to work closely with Vietnamese agencies for the goal of boosting the nations’ ties in all areas, bringing benefits and prosperity for both peoples.

In January, Singaporean investors invested in projects with total capital of 58 million USD, showing strong confidence in Vietnam ’s economic growth prospects, Ambassador Simon Wong Wie Kuen said.

The island country will invest in between 6 and 8 projects worth about 2-3 billion USD in Vietnam this year, the ambassador said.

He expressed hope that the Prime Minister would create favourable conditions and support for the projects to be carried out soon, contributing to developing the two countries’ traditional relations.

While in a meeting with Danish Ambassador John Nielsen, PM Dung said the year 2011 marks 40 years since the establishment of Vietnam-Denmark diplomatic ties.

He said he hoped the Danish government continues to provide Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, especially capital to help the Southeast Asian nation respond to climate change.

He also said he hoped the ambassador, who recently took office in Vietnam, would make more contributions to the two countries’ relations, particularly on the occasion of both sides celebrating the 40 th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

PM Dung expressed his belief that with effort on both sides, bilateral cooperation would unceasingly develop in political, diplomatic and economic fields, bringing benefits to both nations and increasing understanding between the two peoples.

He welcomed the plan to visit Vietnam by the Danish Crown Prince on the occasion of the 40 th anniversary and asked the two sides to join hands for practical results of high-level visits between the sides.

The PM spoke highly of Danish investors’ cooperation, particularly in energy and clean technology, saying that Vietnam has improved infrastructure and conditions for investors to Vietnam .

He reminded both sides of the need to boost cooperation in education, human resource training, culture and sea transport, along with existing projects.

Ambassador Nielsen pledged to do his best to increase bilateral cooperative relations in the political, diplomatic, educational, commercial and cultural fields.

The year 2011 is an important year in the two countries’ diplomatic history, he said, adding that the Crown Prince will lead a delegation of leading Danish companies to seek opportunities for cooperation, especially in clean technology, energy and seafood, in Vietnam this year.

As a WTO member, Vietnam is attractive for Danish investors, he said, affirming the number of Danish businesses in Vietnam would increase in the future, from an existing 120 firms./.