February 8, 2023
HANOI — The official visit to Singapore by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính is expected to open up important orientations for bilateral ties, especially in digital technology and green transition, according to experts.
“The cooperation between Việt Nam and Singapore is the core and of great importance to turning Southeast Asia into a strong, prosperous economy in the next three decades,” Associate Professor Vũ Minh Khương from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy told Vietnam News Agency in an interview ahead of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s visit to Singapore from February 8-10, 2023.
The visit, which holds “great significance”, would offer an opportunity for the two countries to reach a common view on cooperation, he said, adding Singapore, in the future, would need a deeper understanding of Việt Nam, he said.
Regarding cooperation prospects between the two countries in digital transformation and green transition, Khương emphasised that the sectors had served as important drivers of international cooperation as well as the development of each nation.
Việt Nam would be an important partner of Singapore in these fields as the country boasts substantial potential for cooperation at different levels, he said, adding PM Chính’s visit would serve as a start of a level where the two sides exchange experience and strategies on green economy and digital economy.
“Việt Nam and Singapore hold huge and special cooperation potential as they share common strategic perceptions, political stability and aspirations to become development models in Asia,” he stressed.
He held that Việt Nam could learn from Singapore’s experience in public apparatus consolidation, State-owned business management and urban transport development.
According to Prof. Bilveer Singh from the Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, the way in which Việt Nam and Singapore view and understand each other, and together move forward amid numerous fast-changing external challenges is highly important.
Assessing their strategic partnership, he highlighted the development of bilateral connections in economy, politics, diplomacy, culture, and defence, adding that the two countries’ relationship had established itself as a special one.
Prof. Bilveer Singh from the Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore.
The expert described Việt Nam and Singapore as pillars of ASEAN over the last 10 – 15 years, saying the development of their ties within the bloc’s was crucial.
The countries were moving in the right roadmap and should work harder to become the cohesion of ASEAN, he remarked, noting that they were the most stable nations in Southeast Asia at present, so they were in advantageous positions to push the bloc forward.
Talking about defence and security cooperation, Singh said the two sides had maintained an annual defence policy dialogue, but they should further strengthen links between their naval, land, air, and civil defence forces. They also needed to step up officer exchanges to help boost mutual understanding and military ties.
Besides, he also suggested Việt Nam and Singapore identify potential cooperation fields in which cyber security is a major area that Singapore is very strong.
The professor expected that both would together lead ASEAN on the path to sustainable development. As long as they can promote and maintain the bloc’s unity and cooperation with major powers, it would be crucial to safeguarding security in the Indo-Pacific region or the Asia-Pacific region. — VNA/VNS