Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu visits Singapore: Launching a new strategic 'track', upgrading multi-layered dialogue
WVR - On the occasion of the official visit to Singapore by Politburo Member, Standing Member of the Secretariat, co-chairing the first Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Dialogue between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the People's Action Party of Singapore (August 24-25), Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh shared with TG&VN the significance of the visit and the importance of the Strategic Dialogue.
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| Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu officially visits Singapore. (Source: VNA) |
Ambassador, could you share the significance and key contents of this visit to Singapore by Vietnam's senior leaders?
The official visit to Singapore by Politburo Member, Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, from August 24-25 is of great significance. It takes place at a time when Vietnam-Singapore relations are thriving in all areas, especially after the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2025 and the State visit by General Secretary, President To Lam to Singapore in May 2026.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
This visit marks the first time the Communist Party of Vietnam and the People's Action Party of Singapore have organized a Strategic Dialogue. This new mechanism was established in May 2026 to discuss important topics on party building, national development, and governance, as well as training and exchanging young and promising leaders.
I believe the focus of the visit is to strengthen political trust, share development and governance experiences, and create new political momentum to effectively implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
How do you evaluate the party-to-party cooperation between the two countries in recent times, contributing to the orientation of the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for deeper and more substantive development?
I believe that party-to-party cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore has made very positive strides and is becoming an increasingly important component of the overall bilateral relationship.
A highlight is that during the process of upgrading the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2025, both sides agreed to enhance party-to-party cooperation to strengthen trust and consolidate the political foundation, while exploring the establishment of a regular party dialogue mechanism. Just over a year later, the Strategic Dialogue mechanism between the Communist Party of Vietnam and PAP was officially established. This demonstrates the rapid institutionalization of political relations between the two parties, reflecting an increasing level of trust.
Notably, the visit to Singapore by General Secretary, President To Lam in May 2026 has provided strong momentum for the relationship between the two countries and the two parties. I believe the greatest value of the party channel is creating an additional strategic exchange channel, at a long-term level, helping both sides to better understand development orientations, policy priorities, and issues of mutual concern. From there, the party channel can contribute to guiding, creating a political foundation, and paving the way for more effective cooperation between the state, businesses, and people.
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| Attending and delivering a keynote speech at the 33rd Diplomatic Conference, Politburo Member, Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu emphasized that party diplomacy has made breakthroughs in expanding and deepening relationships; affirming its important and decisive role in consolidating the political foundation, guiding, and directing state relations with other countries. (Photo: Chu Van) |
The upcoming first Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Dialogue is highly anticipated. Could you share the importance of the Dialogue for the bilateral cooperation 'track' in the coming time?
I believe we should view this Dialogue as a new “strategic track” that helps the Vietnam-Singapore relationship operate more synchronously, with long-term orientation, and produce more concrete results. Notably, we currently have multiple layers of dialogue mechanisms that complement each other. At the highest level, there are exchanges between the leaders of the two countries; annual meetings between the two Prime Ministers; consultation mechanisms between ministries and sectors; and now the Strategic Dialogue between the two parties. Singapore and Vietnam have also signed an MOU between the two agencies responsible for public service, aiming for high-level exchanges on national development, governance, public administration, and digital transformation. Thus, we are gradually forming a multi-layered dialogue ecosystem, from the party level, state leadership, government to specialized agencies.
In particular, the Dialogue between the two parties is valuable in helping both sides exchange strategic and long-term issues, not only about bilateral relations but also about party building, national development, and governance. I hope the Dialogue will contribute to transitioning from “experience sharing” to “jointly designing and implementing cooperation initiatives”. For example, issues such as science and technology connectivity, innovation, digital transformation, talent development, international finance, logistics, and green growth can become specific cooperation programs. This aligns with the six pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including peace – security; economy; energy and green growth; human resource development and people-to-people connectivity; digital transformation and new technology; and coordination at regional and international forums.
The ultimate goal of the Dialogue is not to have an additional mechanism but to make existing mechanisms better connected and produce more concrete results for the development of the two countries.
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| Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) system. (Photo: VSIP) |
Both Vietnam and Singapore are gearing up for 2027 with many responsibilities, as Vietnam hosts APEC and Singapore chairs ASEAN. How do you view the opportunities for coordination to successfully fulfill these important multilateral tasks?
I believe 2027 will be a special year for Vietnam-Singapore relations and for ASEAN – Asia-Pacific cooperation. Both countries are simultaneously taking on two important multilateral responsibilities: Vietnam hosting APEC 2027, and Singapore chairing ASEAN 2027.
This is a great opportunity for the two countries to create synergy and complementarity between ASEAN and APEC. Vietnam can contribute ASEAN's voice to APEC issues, while Singapore, as ASEAN Chair, can help promote ASEAN priorities that align with the broader Asia-Pacific agenda. I believe there are at least three major directions for coordination.
First, coordination on content and initiatives. The two countries can jointly promote issues of mutual interest such as open trade and investment, green growth, digital transformation, AI, innovation, supply chain resilience, and inclusive development. These are also priorities Vietnam is preparing for APEC 2027.
Second, strengthening ASEAN-APEC connectivity. Both Vietnam and Singapore have an interest in reinforcing ASEAN's central role, promoting ASEAN's unified voice at APEC, and enhancing complementarity between regional mechanisms. The joint statement on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has identified that the two countries will coordinate at ASEAN, APEC, the United Nations, and other international forums.
Third, leveraging 2027 to promote bilateral cooperation programs that are symbolic and create regional ripple effects. For example, cooperation on digital economy, AI, finance, logistics, green energy, supply chain connectivity, and human resource development can serve both bilateral interests and contribute to ASEAN and APEC agendas.
Vietnam is actively preparing for APEC 2027. I believe Vietnam and Singapore can fully make 2027 a “year of strategic resonance”, where Vietnam's APEC 2027 and Singapore's ASEAN 2027 support each other, contributing to a united, resilient, dynamic ASEAN and a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Asia-Pacific region.
If 2025 was the year the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and 2026 was the year of building and institutionalizing new cooperation mechanisms, then I hope 2027 will be the year we see more clearly the results and ripple effects of that Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Thank you very much, Ambassador!
