Singapore (VNA) – The official visit to Singapore by Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and the high-level delegation of Vietnam was successful, highlighted by the upgrade of the countries' relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership – a strategic move reflecting their strong and close-knit ties.
So said Professor Bilveer Singh, deputy head of the Political Science Department at the National University of Singapore, in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency.
According to the professor, bilateral relations now become comprehensive and span all areas, from politics, economy, science and technology to culture and society. The strategic significance of this relationship upgrade could be seen in its broader impact and added value generated for the region and the world.
He stressed that beyond strengthening bilateral ties, the relationship serves as a building block for the region. Despite certain differences, the two share multiple similarities, creating opportunities for experience exchange and mutual learning. In political science and economics, this means complementarities and comparative advantages for both sides.
To fully leverage the potential of the comprehensive strategic partnership, the countries should enhance people-to-people diplomacy, he said, noting that General Secretary To Lam's visit to Singapore showed closer government-to-government ties, but people-to-people diplomacy still has a long way to go.
He pointed out that many Singaporeans have modest knowledge of Vietnamese cities or history, with their familiarity often limited to Vietnamese cuisine and affordable travel destinations. Therefore, promoting closer bonds between the two peoples is essential.
Additionally, Singh emphasised the importance of clearly identifying strategic issues and ensuring they do not impact bilateral relations. Bridging communication gaps and enhancing community engagement are also crucial to advancing the effectiveness of the Vietnam – Singapore comprehensive strategic partnership./.
