Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) presents gift to Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam will continue offering all possible support toand encouraging Singaporean firms to enhance investment and trade in the country,said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
During a receptionin Hanoi on June 21 for Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, whois on Vietnam visit from June 20-23, Chinh hailed Singapore as one of the topinvestors in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese PM suggested bothsides actively seek new and creative ways in important areas, and soon hold ameeting of a working group to discuss digital economic cooperation.
To effectively boost trade in abalanced manner, Chinh proposed Singapore create more favourable conditions forthe import and distribution of several Vietnam’s key goods in the country,including agro-fisheries, processed food, apparel, footwear, new industrialgoods such as electric automobiles, electric cable lines, wooden furniture.
He urged stepping up negotiations andsigning of agreements to mutually recognise quarantine standards in agro-fisheriesand processed food. He also proposed effectively realising specific terms inVietnam – Singapore economic connectivity agreement.
Speaking highly of Singapore’s jointwork to offer support to Vietnamese citizens living and studying in Singaporeduring the COVID-19 pandemic, he suggested Singapore share its experience inapplying modern technology in tracing, testing and treating COVID-19 cases,boost cooperation in accessing safe and effective vaccines, as well asestablish a working group to discuss mutual recognition of vaccinecertificates, thus facilitating travel and resuming commercial flights whenconditions allow.
The Singaporean FM affirmed that Singaporewill actively promote issues of Vietnam’s interest, including trade,investment, digital economy, pandemic response and access to vaccines.
On the East Sea issue, he stated thatSingapore attaches importance to ensuring peace, stability, maritime andaviation security and freedom in the East Sea, and rules-based order, includingthe 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Singaporean Foreign Ministry willactively work with the Vietnamese counterpart to implement leaders’ directions,step up the widespread and substantial development of bilateral strategicpartnership based on political trust and common benefits, he said.
On the occasion, Chinh extended hisregards to Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong and wished to welcome him to Vietnamsoon./.
