General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong leads a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on an official visit to the Republic of Singapore.

The official visit to Singapore by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong this time affirms Vietnam's policy of attaching importance to and giving high priority to strengthening relations with countries in the region and affirms that Vietnam is a responsible member, ready to join Singapore and ASEAN countries in building a strong, united ASEAN Community for a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developed Southeast Asia. At the same time, the visit also aims to promote the good friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries to new heights; strengthen the relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the PAP, creating a solid political foundation for the two countries' relations to continuously develop well.

Singapore is located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, with an area of ​​692.7 km2 and a population of about 5.2 million people. Singapore's political and social situation is stable. Since gaining independence in 1965, the PAP has continuously won 12 parliamentary elections and taken over the government. From a country with almost no resources, Singapore has become a developed country in the region and the world, with infrastructure and a number of highly developed industries leading Asia and the world such as: seaports, shipbuilding and repair industry, oil refining industry, processing, electronics and sophisticated machinery assembly; is the world's leading country in the production of electronic computer drives and semiconductors; is the leading oil refining and transit center in Asia. Singapore is also at the forefront of the transition to a knowledge-based economy, implementing a plan to transform the island nation into a world-leading city by 2018, a hub of a new network in the global economy with a diversified economy. Despite the impact of the global economic recession, in 2011, Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) still reached 314.2 billion USD, up 4.8% compared to 2010. Singapore values ​​and balances its relations with major countries, focusing on security and defense cooperation and investment with the US, strengthening investment and trade relations with China and Japan, and prioritizing relations with ASEAN countries. Singapore has an important voice and role in regional and international forums.

We are pleased to see the comprehensive friendship and cooperation between Vietnam andMaleand Singapore continue to develop well. Leaders of the two countries regularly exchange high-level visits and contacts. The two sides signed the "Joint Declaration on the Framework for Comprehensive Cooperation in the 21st Century" in 2004, creating a legal basis and favorable conditions to promote the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. The two sides agreed in principle to develop the relationship between the two countries to the level of strategic partnership in the coming time.

Singapore is Vietnam's leading trade and investment partner.Male. Singapore's investment projects in Vietnam have achieved good results, of which the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) is a symbol of Singapore's investment in Vietnam. In addition to the four VSIPs in Binh Duong, Bac Ninh and Hai Phong, the two sides are promoting the establishment of a fifth VSIP in Quang Ngai. Trade turnover between the two countries has increased steadily in recent years. In 2011, bilateral trade turnover reached 8.7 billion USD. To date, Singapore has more than a thousand investment projects in our country, with a total capital of about 23 billion USD, ranking fifth among countries and territories investing in Vietnam.Male. The two countries effectively implemented the Framework Agreement on Connecting the Two Economies of Vietnam and Singapore signed in December 2005 in six areas of cooperation, including finance, investment, trade - services, transportation, post and telecommunications - information technology and education - training; agreed to consider the possibility of expanding to other areas. Cooperation between the two countries in the fields of defense, security, education - training, justice, tourism... has all been enhanced. On the occasion of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's official visit to Singapore, the two sides will focus on discussing development orientations, aiming to deepen and expand the contents of the Framework Agreement on Connecting the Two Economies, and at the same time set out major orientations for the contents of the strategic partnership between the two countries in the coming decade. In addition, the two sides will discuss measures to enhance cooperation at regional and international forums, including ASEAN, as well as on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Wishing the official visit to the Republic of Singapore by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation a great success, contributing to promoting the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries to a new height, towards signing a strategic partnership in 2013 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Singapore, meeting the common wishes and interests of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Southeast Asian region and the world.