HO CHI
MINH: Singapore and Vietnam are set to
take relations a notch higher and extend cooperation beyond the economic
sphere.
Cooperation
in promoting international peace and security, anti-terrorism, and deterrence
of transnational crime are on the cards as both countries establish a Strategic
Partnership.
Singapore's
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean will be in Vietnam to discuss further
cooperation in these areas.
Singapore's
President Tony Tan Keng Yam said there's room for relations to be taken
further.
Wrapping
up his first overseas visit as Head of State to Vietnam, he said on Friday that
it's worthwhile for Singapore's Trade and Industry, Defence, and Home Affairs
ministries to be involved in developing the Strategic Partnership framework.
He said
the existing Connectivity Framework Agreement is progressing well.
The
agreement is the overarching pillar of bilateral economic cooperation covering
areas of education and training, finance, investment, information technology
and telecommunications, trade and services, and transportation,
In the
economic sphere, Dr Tan said Singapore companies can be encouraged to partner
Vietnamese firms to invest in neighbouring countries like Laos, Cambodia and
Myanmar.
"The
Vietnamese companies, over the last 20 years, have matured their growth.
They're now in the position, not only to develop and invest within Vietnam, but
also to invest outside Vietnam. We have expertise in this area of developing
investments outside own country. I think that this could be a very fruitful
area and a new dimension to cooperation," said Dr Tan.
Dr Tan
said both sides are considering the possibility of building a sixth industrial
park in Ho Chi Minh City.
Earlier
this week, Singapore was given the green light to build a fifth industrial park
in Vietnam, worth over US$330 million.
The
600-hectare project in Quang Ngai province will be developed along with a
520-hectare commercial and residential site.
The
Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks have been hailed as symbols of the warm ties
between both countries.
Turning
to trade, President Tan said it's important that countries do not raise more
barriers.
Hence,
the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which includes Singapore and Vietnam, plays a
part towards greater economic integration and development of an Asia Pacific
Free Trade Area.
The
issue of conflict in the South China Sea was also raised during the visit.
In
discussions, Dr Tan said both Singapore and Vietnam agreed that the parties
involved should resolve the situation peacefully.
Vietnam
is a claimant state to disputed territory - the source of the conflict, while
Singapore is not.
Dr Tan
said it's important to ensure freedom of navigation of ships in the South China
Sea.
He said
disputes between the claimant countries should be resolved in accordance with
the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.
On the
slowing global economy, Dr Tan said Singapore and Vietnam share a similar
outlook in harnessing opportunities in an emerging Asia so it's important for
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to continue to progress towards
establishing an economic community by 2015.
Dr Tan
said such a community will boost economic development within the region and
create new opportunities for member countries.
Dr Tan
also said the General Secretary of Vietnam's Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong,
will visit Singapore in the second half of this year.
-
CNA/fa
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