Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean emphasizes the enduring ties between Vietnam and Singapore during a dialogue session at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics
SENIOR Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Teo Chee Hean, delivered the opening remarks at the “50 Years of Vietnam-Singapore Relations: Achievements and Prospects” dialogue session held at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics on 17th November 2023. The dialogue session marked part of SM Teo’s official visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, spanning from 15th to 17th November 2023.
During his address, SM Teo expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and highlighted the launch of the Potential Leaders’ Programme, a collaborative effort between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, supported by the Temasek Foundation.
Reflecting on the historical context, SM Teo noted that his first official visit to Vietnam was precisely 30 years ago on November 17, 1993, accompanying Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, then Senior Minister. The visit laid the foundation for the strong relations between the two countries. Over the years, SM Teo has observed Vietnam’s remarkable economic transformation and growth, emphasizing the purpose of his current visit to further strengthen and broaden the relationship.
Key areas of discussion during the visit included expanding economic cooperation into emerging areas such as the digital and green economies. The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) were highlighted as enduring symbols of the economic partnership, attracting significant investments and creating jobs. SM Teo mentioned the Green-Digital Economic Partnership and the Vietnam Singapore Energy Project (VSEP) as recent milestones in collaboration.
People-to-people ties were also emphasized, with a focus on increasing tourism, the growth of the Vietnamese community in Singapore, and an Innovation Talent Exchange agreement signed during Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s visit in August.
The third area of focus was building strong political trust and institutional links. SM Teo highlighted the longstanding partnership in human resource development, the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding on Study Visits, and the launch of the Potential Leaders’ Programme as channels to strengthen ties between the two nations.
In conclusion, SM Teo expressed confidence in the continued growth of friendship between Vietnam and Singapore, urging both countries to work together for another 50 years of even closer cooperation.
Source – PMO
