Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Singapore (VNA) – The Straits Times of Singapore has run articles highlighting Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's State visit to the country from February24-26.
In its article published on February 24, the newspaper quoted its e-mail interview with Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on the eve of the three-day visit by President Phuc toSingapore, saying that Vietnam is fully confident that the trip will helpSingaporean and international businesses better understand Vietnam's strongcommitment to promoting socio-economic recovery and growth in the new normal.
Son said: “Vietnam will continue toimprove its business and investment climate, facilitate more cooperationbetween the two sides' business communities in areas of mutual interest,especially the research, application and transfer of high technology,innovation, and the digital and green economy, in order to together contributeto the sustainable development in both countries and the region alike."
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse left Hanoi on February 24 afternoon for a State visit to Singapore. (Photo: VNA) He saidthe COVID-19 pandemic, which led to shutting borders for some time, has not dentedVietnam-Singapore cooperation, adding that Singaporeremains one of Vietnam's top investors, having committed nearly 11 billion USDlast year.
The minister noted that along with the gradual resumption of internationalcommercial flights, Singapore and Vietnam have recently agreed to recognise eachother's vaccine credentials.
Son expressed his hope that the twocountries will work together to facilitate each country's nationals to travelto the other to pursue education, work, healthcare and tourism, promote tradeand investment, and strengthen cooperation in containing COVID-19.
A day earlier, thenewspaper also reported on Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan'sassessment of Vietnam – Singapore diplomatic ties during nearly the lastfive decades.
The newspaper said that in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the Statevisit by President Phuc, Vivian stressed that Singapore-Vietnam ties have grownfrom strength to strength since the two countries first established diplomaticrelations in 1973.
This is mainly due tothe high level of trust at the political level, longstanding win-winpartnerships, and strong people-to-people ties, the minister said, adding thatthis will be the first State visit that Singapore is hosting since the onset ofthe COVID-19 pandemic.
Vivian said Singaporelooks forward to keeping the partnership forward-looking by expanding intoemerging areas, including accelerating cooperationin the digital economy in areas likecyber security, smart cities and digital payments.
Singaporeis also keen to work with Vietnam in sustainable development as Vietnamincreases investments in sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy, withthe goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The Straits Times hasalso published an article written by Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung,in which the diplomat highlighted the fruitful development of multi-facetedrelations between the two countries.
The State visit by PresidentNguyen Xuan Phuc is expected to create freshimpetus for the bilateral ties, especially cooperation for post-pandemic economicrecovery and win-win development, and lay a foundation for more areas ofcooperation, the ambassador wrote./.
