15th Singapore-Vietnam Bilateral Consultations, 18 May 2023

Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Albert Chua is currently on a working visit to Hanoi, Vietnam. Permanent Secretary Chua and Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam co-chaired the 15^th Singapore-Vietnam Bilateral Consultations (SVBC) today.

Permanent Secretary Chua and Deputy Foreign Minister Viet reaffirmed the excellent relations between Singapore and Vietnam, underpinned by deep and multi-faceted cooperation across many sectors. Both sides reviewed Singapore and Vietnam’s substantive cooperation in trade, investment and finance. They agreed to further deepen our collaboration in emerging areas of mutual interest including the green and digital economies, renewable energy, carbon credits and cybersecurity, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Green-Digital Economic Partnership signed during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s Official Visit to Singapore in February 2023. They welcomed the frequent bilateral exchanges this year as both sides commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10^th anniversary of our Strategic Partnership. They noted that the Singapore Business Federation is planning to hold its flagship event, the 7^th Singapore Regional Business Forum, outside Singapore for the first time in Hanoi later this year. Both sides also exchanged views on key regional and international developments. Permanent Secretary Chua and Deputy Foreign Minister Viet agreed on the importance of ASEAN Centrality and unity, strengthening an open and inclusive regional architecture, and deepening regional economic integration.

In addition, Permanent Secretary Chua met Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu, and Chairman of the Commission of External Relations of the Communist Party of Vietnam Le Hoai Trung. They discussed regional and international issues as well as ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation.

Earlier during his visit, Permanent Secretary Chua attended the Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (SOM-DOC) from 16 to 17 May 2023.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

18 MAY 2023