PM Lawrence Wong at the Official Dinner Hosted by Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh (Mar 2025)

Your Excellency Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh
Madam Lê Thị Bích Trân
Excellencies and distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
 
I am delighted to be here in Vietnam, and I thank Prime Minister Chinh for the warm hospitality extended to me and my Singapore delegation. Thank you for the excellent arrangements and the wonderful performance to welcome us.
 
This is my first visit to Vietnam as PM. But I’ve had the chance to meet PM Chinh several times in the past year at regional and multilateral meetings. Just two weeks ago, I welcomed General Secretary To Lam to Singapore, and had a good discussion. 
 
These regular engagements demonstrate the high level of trust between our two countries. They show how the Singapore-Vietnam relationship has grown over the years since the very first exchange of visits between then-SM Lee Kuan Yew and then-General Secretary Do Muoi.
 
Our bilateral ties are now at a high point. 

Our economic cooperation is stronger than ever. 

The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks, or VSIPs, have expanded over the years, in both number and impact. 

Today we have 20 VSIPs across 14 provinces in Vietnam. They have attracted over US$23 billion of investments, created significant opportunities, and supported more than 320,000 jobs in Vietnam.  
 
I am confident that our ties will continue to grow from strength to strength for several reasons.
 
First, we have just elevated our relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership or CSP. The CSP sets out a roadmap for deepening and expanding our cooperation, so that it remains relevant and updated especially in this rapidly changing world.

The CSP covers new areas of cooperation, such as renewable energy, carbon credits, subsea cable connectivity, and the digital economy, while addressing emerging challenges such as scams and cybercrimes.

Both sides are committed to ensuring swift and speedy progress in implementing the CSP and I look forward to discussing this further with PM Chinh tomorrow.
 
Second, we enjoy very strong people-to-people ties. 

We have a steady flow of people travelling between our two countries – for tourism, work and studies.

Singapore is also honoured to be able to play a role in supporting Vietnam’s human resource development. 

Vietnam has been the most active participant in the Singapore Cooperation Programme, with over 22,000 officials having attended our courses – many of them conducted here in Hanoi, at our Vietnam-Singapore Cooperation Centre.

The growing Vietnamese community in Singapore has also enriched the diversity of our island state. They have also brought their culture to our Singaporean traditions including having a Vietnamese team participating in our Chingay parade last month.
 
Third and most importantly, we have in PM Chinh a friend and a like-minded and forward-looking partner.
 
PM Chinh himself has been an advocate of transforming Vietnam through three “strategic breakthroughs” of institutional reform, digital infrastructure, and human resource development; and by pursuing advancement in strategic areas like the green economy.

These align with Singapore’s own priorities, as well as the agenda we have set out in the CSP.  

We welcome your encouragement for Singapore companies to grow their presence here in Vietnam in sectors like low-carbon power, and we look forward to the Vietnam government’s support for such projects.
 
All in all, we have firm foundations for our bilateral relations to continue flourishing in the coming years.  I look forward to working closely with PM Chinh and the government of Vietnam, to take our ties to new heights.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, may I now invite you to join me in a toast:

To the continued good health and success of PM Chinh and Madam Trân;

To the peace, progress and prosperity of Vietnam; and

To the enduring friendship between Singapore and Vietnam. 

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