General Secretary’s visit to open up new areas of cooperation between Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and ASEAN: Deputy Minister
WVR - Ahead of General Secretary To Lam's state visit to Indonesia, official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat, and official visit to Singapore, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong gave an interview to The World and Vietnam Report, sharing insights on the significance of the trip.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
In his remarks, the Deputy Minister highlighted key achievements in Vietnam's cooperation with Indonesia and Singapore in recent years
Indonesia and Singapore are important partners of Vietnam in the region. Over the years, political trust between Vietnam and these two countries has been increasingly strengthened. Cooperation across all fields—through Party, State, parliamentary, and people-to-people channels—has grown closer, more effective, and has achieved significant results.
Regarding Vietnam-Indonesia ties, Indonesia was the first Southeast Asian country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1955. The traditional friendship, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno, has been continuously nurtured by generations of leaders and the people of both nations.
After 70 years, especially since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership in 2013, cooperation between the two countries has become even more comprehensive and profound. High-level exchanges and meetings have been held regularly at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
In 2024, President Joko Widodo and then President-elect Prabowo Subianto both visited Vietnam. Additionally, President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with President Prabowo Subianto during the APEC Summit and the G20 Summit.
The Communist Party of Vietnam maintains official relations with Indonesia’s major political parties, including the Party of Functional Groups (Golkar) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Cooperation between localities has developed positively, with the two sides establishing four pairs of twinned provinces/cities. Both countries share many strategic interests and perspectives on regional and international issues, particularly within the ASEAN framework and regarding the East Sea issue.
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| General Secretary’s visit to open up new areas of cooperation between Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and ASEAN: Deputy Minister |
Economic cooperation between the two nations has yielded significant positive results. Indonesia is Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner in ASEAN, while Vietnam ranks as Indonesia’s fourth-largest trading partner in the bloc. Bilateral trade volume has quadrupled over the past decade, reaching 16.7 billion USD in 2024.
Defense and security cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia has been strengthened through dialogue mechanisms, exchanges, and joint training. The two countries have signed and effectively implemented multiple cooperation agreements in areas such as combating transnational crime, counterterrorism, and maritime collaboration. Other key sectors, including cultural, educational, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, continue to be prioritized.
Regarding Vietnam-Singapore ties, after more than 50 years of diplomatic relations (1973) and 10 years of a Strategic Partnership (2013), Vietnam-Singapore relations have continued to grow strongly. Cooperation has expanded comprehensively across Party, State, Government, parliamentary, and people-to-people channels, with a high level of political trust and frequent exchanges of high-level and other delegations.
Most recently, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh visited Singapore, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Vietnam in 2023. Additionally, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man visited Singapore in 2024. The two sides have effectively implemented bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the Ministerial Conference on Economic Connectivity.
The Communist Party of Vietnam maintains strong cooperative ties with Singapore’s ruling People's Action Party (PAP), regularly exchanging experiences on national development and working closely on strategic-level leadership training. The two countries’ parliaments also enjoy a strong partnership, both bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks.
Singapore is the economic powerhouse of the region and one of Vietnam’s most important economic partners. Economic, trade, and investment relations between the two countries have been dynamic, yielding substantial and tangible achievements. Singapore is currently Vietnam’s largest investor in ASEAN and the second-largest in the world.
One of the most notable symbols of success is the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP). To date, there are 18 VSIPs in 13 provinces and cities, attracting more than 18.7 billion USD in investment and creating jobs for over 300,000 workers. Additionally, Vietnam has 153 investment projects in Singapore, with a total registered capital exceeding 690 million USD.
Bilateral trade turnover in 2024 is estimated to reach 10.3 billion USD. Notably, the Green Economy - Digital Economy Partnership between the two countries is opening new opportunities for bilateral cooperation in key and high-potential sectors.
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| General Secretary’s visit to open up new areas of cooperation between Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and ASEAN: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) holds talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong, in Vientiane, Laos, October 9, 2024 . (Photo: VGP) |
In defense and security, Vietnam and Singapore have signed a Bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement and effectively implemented collaboration in emerging security fields, including cybersecurity and transnational crime prevention. The two countries largely share common positions on regional and international issues, supporting an international order based on international law.
Additionally, Vietnam and Singapore enjoy close people-to-people ties. Currently, around 20,000 Vietnamese people are studying, working, and residing long-term in Singapore.
These achievements have significantly contributed to each country’s development and continue to enhance the effectiveness and substance of Vietnam’s Strategic Partnership with both Indonesia and Singapore.
Regarding Vietnam’s key contributions and milestones in ASEAN over the past 30 years, the Deputy Minister emphasized that the three decades since Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995 have been a remarkable journey for both Vietnam and the group.
Over these 30 years, Vietnam has steadily matured, developed, and actively contributed more to ASEAN’s common efforts. Vietnam could take pride in the fact that its contributions have been closely linked to ASEAN’s meaningful progress, helping to strengthen a united, resilient, and outward-looking ASEAN Community.
Throughout its participation in ASEAN, Vietnam has always placed the highest priority on maintaining ASEAN’s centrality and unity. ASEAN’s achievements over nearly 60 years stand as proof that “unity is strength” and in times of turbulence, ASEAN’s spirit of unity, cohesion and mutual support shines even brighter, helping the region overcome all challenges together.
"Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 was a term full of challenges, yet we successfully led the group, mobilizing collective strength and joint action to help ASEAN overcome the unprecedented difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. This fully embodied the year’s theme “Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN”, Deputy Minister Cuong noted.
Vietnam’s contributions are also reflected in its proactive and responsible participation in shaping ASEAN’s strategic decisions. From advancing the formation of ASEAN-10 in the late 1990s to initiating key documents bearing its imprint, Vietnam has played a crucial role in ASEAN’s development. Notable examples include the Hanoi Declaration (2001) on narrowing the development gap; the Hanoi Action Plan (1999-2004), and the Hanoi Declaration on Building the ASEAN Community Vision Beyond 2025.
A particularly significant milestone was the ASEAN Future Forum 2025 which was recently held successfully in Hanoi. After just two editions, this initiative is gradually becoming a recognized ASEAN-led and ASEAN-focused platform. It reinforces Vietnam’s leadership in shaping regional dialogues and further enhances the country’s international stature, the Deputy Minister mentioned.
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| ASEAN Future Forum 2025: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other participants take a group photo at the high-level plenary session on February 26, 2025. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Alongside efforts to promote regional integration, Vietnam has played a crucial role as a bridge in expanding ASEAN’s external relations and deepening its engagement in global processes. As a coordinator of ASEAN’s relations with key partners such as China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and currently the UK and New Zealand, Vietnam has left a strong impression for its sincerity, trustworthiness, and commitment to seeking new opportunities that maximize cooperation potential, making ASEAN’s partnerships more substantive and effective.
The recommendations and proposals from the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 were promptly submitted to the United Nations Summit of the Future, helping to align ASEAN’s priorities with global concerns. This reaffirmed the value of multilateralism and the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges, contributing to the shared goals of peace, security, stability, and sustainable development.
Regarding the purpose, significance, and expectations for General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Indonesia, the ASEAN Secretariat, and Singapore, the Deputy Minister emphasized that this visit marks a historic milestone. It is the first time a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam will visit the ASEAN Secretariat. It is also the first visit by a Party General Secretary to Indonesia in nearly eight years (since August 2017) and to Singapore in nearly 13 years (since September 2012).
The visit takes place at a meaningful time, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Vietnam-Indonesia diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN—a historic turning point in Vietnam’s regional and international integration.
This trip reflects Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development, as well as its commitment to diversifying and multilateralizing international relations. It underscores the importance that the Party and State place on strengthening ties with neighboring countries in the region, particularly Indonesia and Singapore, which are two of Vietnam’s key partners.
The visit also reaffirms the strategic importance of ASEAN in Vietnam’s foreign policy, demonstrating Vietnam’s proactive, responsible, and innovative spirit in contributing practical solutions to realize ASEAN’s shared aspirations for the future.
Deputy Minister Cuong expressed his strong belief that General Secretary To Lam’s visit will lay a solid foundation and open new avenues for cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia, Singapore, and ASEAN as a whole.
As members of the ASEAN family, strengthening bilateral ties between Vietnam and Indonesia and Singapore, while fostering a common voice on regional and global issues, will further contribute to ASEAN’s overall development—toward a united, resilient, and prosperous ASEAN, the Deputy Minister concluded.
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