Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to strengthening its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam during a State Banquet held in honour of Vietnamese leader To Lam.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Vietnam, describing the two countries as natural partners bound by shared values, economic openness and a commitment to continual renewal.
Speaking at a State Banquet in honour of His Excellency To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, President Tharman welcomed the Vietnamese leader and his spouse, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly, to Singapore and highlighted the strong bilateral relationship that has developed over more than five decades.
President Tharman noted that despite differences in size, history and political traditions, Singapore and Vietnam share several important characteristics. Both countries have prioritised investment in human capital, embraced openness to global markets and pursued continuous economic transformation to create opportunities for future generations.
He praised Vietnam’s achievements in education and workforce development, citing international recognition of the country’s strong performance in developing human capital. He also highlighted the role of trade, investment and international connectivity in driving growth in both nations.
Reflecting on the history of bilateral relations, President Tharman said the modern phase of Singapore-Vietnam cooperation began with the exchange of high-level visits in the early 1990s and has since expanded through economic cooperation, ASEAN collaboration and the establishment of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs).
The President noted that Singapore and Vietnam elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2025, making Vietnam the first ASEAN member state with which Singapore has established such a partnership.
Economic cooperation remains a key pillar of bilateral ties, he said. Singapore has consistently ranked among Vietnam’s largest foreign investors, while the network of 22 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks across 15 provinces has become a major driver of investment, industrial development and job creation. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the VSIP programme.
President Tharman also highlighted the growing people-to-people connections between the two countries. More than 25,000 Vietnamese live, work and study in Singapore, while increasing numbers of Singaporeans are becoming familiar with Vietnamese culture, cuisine and travel destinations.
Looking ahead, he said Singapore stands ready to support Vietnam’s next phase of development under President To Lam’s vision of a “new era of national rise.” Areas of future cooperation include smart and sustainable industrial parks, renewable energy, carbon credits, subsea cable connectivity, agri-food development, advanced manufacturing and the digital economy.
President Tharman also announced plans for the establishment of a Singapore-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue, which will facilitate high-level discussions on governance, public administration and national transformation.
Addressing broader regional challenges, he noted that both countries share a commitment to ASEAN centrality and a rules-based international order. He expressed confidence that Singapore and Vietnam would work closely together as Vietnam prepares to chair APEC in 2027 and Singapore assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in the same year.
Source: ISTANA
