Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds phone talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
WVR - On the afternoon of February 10, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a phone call with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to further promote and deepen the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
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| Overview of the phone call between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. (Source: VGP) |
During the call, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, on behalf of General Secretary To Lam and the Party and State of Vietnam, expressed thanks to Prime Minister Singapore for sending a congratulatory letter on the success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He also conveyed New Year wishes for happiness and prosperity from General Secretary To Lam and the leaders and people of Vietnam to the Secretary-General of the People's Action Party, Prime Minister Singapore, and the leaders and people of Singapore. Prime Minister Singapore expressed appreciation and extended Lunar New Year wishes to General Secretary To Lam and the senior leaders and people of Vietnam.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed several cooperation initiatives between the two countries, prioritizing the expansion and upgrading of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) network to the second generation. This would not only include industrial parks but also integrate services, high-tech, and eco-urban areas, aiming to achieve 30 VSIPs by 2026, marking 30 years of this successful model in Vietnam. He also praised the positive growth trajectory of bilateral trade in 2025, which increased by 12% compared to 2024, and urged Singapore to continue increasing imports of agricultural products and effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on rice trade cooperation to ensure food security.
The Prime Minister shared with Prime Minister Singapore the decision to establish International Financial Centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. He proposed that the two countries enhance cooperation in building and developing these centers, based on practical and mutually beneficial collaboration, leveraging each other's strengths, and complementing one another to attract resources and promote the overall development of the ASEAN region. He requested Singapore's support in sharing experiences and advising the Vietnamese government, and proposed enhanced cooperation in developing financial-banking infrastructure, especially digital infrastructure, payment systems, cross-border payments, digital identity, and cybersecurity. He encouraged the expansion of investment and long-term operations in Vietnam by Singaporean banks, investment funds, and fintech companies.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed several cooperation initiatives between the two countries. (Source: VGP) |
Praising the active cooperation in clean energy, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged both sides to swiftly conduct surveys for the offshore wind power project in Vietnam to export electricity to Singapore. He suggested incorporating this project into the intergovernmental cooperation program to create a legal foundation, contributing to the realization of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG). Additionally, both sides agreed to boost cooperation in carbon credit exchange, further deepening the Vietnam-Singapore Green Economy – Digital Economy Partnership.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also proposed that the two countries strengthen cooperation in defense and security, combating transnational crimes, especially drug trafficking, fraud, financial crimes, and cybercrimes. He requested Singapore's continued support in developing Vietnam's human resources, particularly strategic-level leaders, increasing scholarships for Vietnam, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, and exploring the possibility of launching more direct flights from Singapore to major cities in Vietnam to boost tourism.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to continue strengthening cooperation, consolidating ASEAN unity, and its central role, especially in addressing regional issues.
Prime Minister Singapore Lawrence Wong once again congratulated the success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He emphasized Singapore's confidence in Vietnam's strong growth potential in the coming period and reaffirmed the commitment to continue expanding investment in Vietnam, including increasing the number of Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks. Agreeing with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister Singapore highlighted several areas of cooperation that need further promotion. Congratulating Vietnam on establishing the International Financial Center, he noted that its development requires not only infrastructure but also institutional and legal framework improvements. He affirmed that Singapore remains a reliable partner, supporting and assisting Vietnam in effectively developing the International Financial Center. Prime Minister Singapore agreed to actively cooperate in clean energy and suggested expanding cooperation beyond trade to include other important areas, such as defense and security.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed strengthening cooperation in defense and security, combating transnational crimes. (Source: VGP) |
Prime Minister Singapore affirmed continued support for Vietnam in human resource development, encouraging Singaporean universities to increase scholarship offerings, and further promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He agreed on the need to collaborate to strengthen ASEAN unity and its central role in building a stronger and more cohesive ASEAN, promoting ASEAN connectivity initiatives.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination and effective collaboration in 2027 when Vietnam hosts the APEC Year and Singapore assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong affirmed that Singapore will continue to work towards making the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership increasingly substantive and effective.
