Vietnam, Singapore Prime Ministers agree to promote high-level visits

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong have agreed to promote high-level visits and meetings and maintain bilateral cooperative mechanisms during their meeting ahead of the ASEAN-US Special Summit in the US.
Vietnam, Singapore Prime Ministers agree to promote high-level visits ảnh 1Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong at their meeting ahead of the ASEAN-US Special Summit in the US. (Photo: VNA) 

Hanoi, (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and hisSingaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong have agreed to promote high-level visitsand meetings and maintain bilateral cooperative mechanisms during their meetingahead of the ASEAN-US Special Summit in the US.

At the meeting on May 12 (US time), the two Government leaders also reachedconsensus on continued cooperation in post-pandemic economic recovery anddevelopment, including in bolstering digital economy, green economy andcircular economy, towards the 50th anniversary of the two countries’diplomatic relationship and 10 years of their strategic partnership in 2023.

The two countries will further expand the chain of Vietnam-Singapore IndustrialParks (VSIP) in Vietnam and work together to make the best use ofnew-generation free trade agreements to which they both are members, such asthe Comprehensive and Progressive Agreementfor Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Vietnam, Singapore Prime Ministers agree to promote high-level visits ảnh 2At the meeting between the two PMs (Photo: VNA) 
PM Chinh congratulated Singapore on the selection of the leader of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) fourth-generation (4G) team, noting his belief thatSingapore will continue with stable and prosperous development.  

He underlined that Singaporeis one of important partners of Vietnam and praised the contribution of variousgenerations of Singapore leaders, including PM Lee Hsien Loong, to the cooperativeties between the two countries.  

For his part, the Singaporean PM affirmed that Singapore attaches importance toand wants to develop its strategic partnership with Vietnam in both bilateraland multilateral frameworks.

He congratulated Vietnam on its recent socio-economic achievements, and wishedVietnam success in hosting the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games31).

The two Government leaders expressed satisfaction at therapid and strong progress in the two countries’ partnership, with economiccollaboration continuing to be a bright example of cooperation and connectivityin the region.

Singapore has recently become the second largest foreign investor in Vietnamwith total registered capital exceeding 67.5 billion USD. The VSIPs haveoperated effectively over the past 20 years, contributing to their strategicpartnership. Cooperation in defence-security, culture, education andpeople-to-people exchange maintain robust development.        

PM Chinh suggested bolstering collaboration in education-training and askedSingapore to provide more scholarships for Vietnamese managerial officials. Healso wished to strengthen joint work in addressing security challenges, bothconventional and non-conventional, epidemics and climate change.

The two PMs took the occasion to exchange views on regionaland global issues of mutual concern, including existing cooperative mechanismsand new initiatives on economic cooperation in the region.

PM Lee Hsien Loong accepted an invitation to visit Vietnamfrom his Vietnamese counterpart, and invited PM Chinh to visit Singapore./.
VNA

See more

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly are welcomed at Beijing Capital International Airport on April 14 morning. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader arrives in Beijing, beginning state visit to China

The state visit marks a new beginning in the bilateral relations as both countries enter a new stage of development. Vietnam is stepping into a new development era following the successful 14th National Party Congress, while China is embarking on the implementation of its 15th five-year socio-economic development plan.

Professor Cui Shoujun of the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader’s visit hoped to provide fresh momentum for bilateral ties: Chinese professor

According to Professor Cui, the visit underscores the guiding role of high-level diplomacy in shaping the bilateral relations. The decision by Vietnam’s top leader to choose China for his first overseas trip shortly after assuming the presidency highlights the strategic significance of the bilateral ties and reaffirms the long-standing friendship often described as “both comrades and brothers.”

Party General Secretary To Lam (R) welcomes Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in Hanoi in April 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–China: New momentum for trade growth

In 2025, China remained Vietnam’s largest trading partner. Conversely, Vietnam was China’s biggest trading partner in ASEAN and ranked fourth globally, with two-way trade reaching 256.4 billion USD, up 24.8% year-on-year. In the first two months of 2026 alone, trade turnover hit 66.7 billion USD, an increase of 30.2%.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam receives Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico on April 13. (Photo: VNA)

Slovak PM concludes official visit to Vietnam

The visit by Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico on April 12-14 was described as a vivid demonstration of Slovakia’s goodwill and high regard for the traditional friendship between the two countries, marking a significant milestone that opens a new phase of more stable and substantive development in bilateral ties.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (Photo: VNA)

Promoting traditional friendship, enhancing strategic connectivity between Vietnam and China: Top leader

Building on the foundation of friendship carefully nurtured by previous generations of leaders of the two countries, on the high-level common perceptions that have been established, on the determination of agencies, sectors and localities, and on the support of the people of both countries, Vietnam–China relations will certainly continue to develop in a stable, healthy and long-term sustainable manner, bringing more tangible benefits to the two Parties, States and peoples, and making increasingly positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

From left: Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (3rd) and visiting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (2nd) enjoy the Vietnam–Slovakia friendship concert at the Ho Guom Opera in Hanoi on the evening of April 13. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Slovak leaders attend friendship concert in Hanoi

In the near future, further artistic exchanges between Vietnam and Slovakia are anticipated, with Slovak orchestras and ensembles expected to perform in Vietnam, while Vietnamese artists will have opportunities to showcase their talents in Slovakia, thereby deepening bilateral cultural cooperation and people-to-people ties.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (R) and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Photo: VNA)

Top leader hosts Slovak Prime Minister

Slovakia always considers Vietnam the most important partner in Southeast Asia and one of its top three partners in Asia. The elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and the signing of multiple cooperation agreements between ministries, agencies and businesses would provide fresh momentum for collaboration.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (R) and Viktor Zolotov, Director of the Federal National Guard Service of Russia in Hanoi on April 13. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader receives head of Russia’s Federal National Guard Service

Vietnam attaches great importance to its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, expressing satisfaction at the regular exchanges and contacts maintained between agencies of both countries at various levels, contributing to strengthened bilateral ties.

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Nguyen Duy Ngoc presents the appointment decision to Sen. Lieut. Gen. Le Duc Thai (Photo: VNA)

Le Duc Thai named Secretary of Thanh Hoa provincial Party Committee

New Secretary of the Thanh Hoa provincial Party Committee Le Duc Thai pledged to lead by example, uphold unity and creativity, seize opportunities and overcome challenges to successfully achieve the goals set out in the resolution of the provincial Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term, contributing to the nationwide rollout of the 14th National Party Congress’s resolution.

At the phone talks between Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and LDP President and Prime Minister of Japan Takaichi Sanae (Photo: VNA)

Top leader holds phone talks with Japanese PM

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae spoke highly of Vietnam’s role and position in the regionc, calling it a key partner to advance Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision. Japan greatly values Vietnam’s policy of independence and self-reliance and supports its development goals in a new era.