PM Wong meets General Secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam, announces new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam agreed to upgrade the two countries' bilateral relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)".

PM Wong, who is also Minister for Finance, announced the leaders' decision at a joint press conference held during Lam's official visit to Singapore on Mar. 12, 2025.

According to him, the CSP will build on the Strategic Partnership Singapore and Vietnam established in 2013, while expanding the countries' cooperation into "new and emerging areas", such as green and renewable economy.

To Singapore, the elevated relationship is significant because it is the country's first with an Asean member state, noted PM Wong.

Concurrently, the partnership also reflects "the high level of trust" between Singapore and Vietnam, the good work that the two countries have done together, and the potential to do even more.

To "further progress" on the two countries' cooperation, PM Wong revealed that he will be making his introductory visit to Vietnam in two weeks' time following Lam's visit.

Significance of Lam's visit

During his toast speech at the official lunch hosted in Lam's honour, PM Wong said Singapore and Vietnam's relations are anchored by "strong political trust" between the countries' leaders.

The first exchange of visits took place between then-PM Lee Kuan Yew and then-General Secretary Do Muoi, and subsequent generations of leaders from both countries continued to nurture the bilateral relationship and "build trust on both sides".

Following then-General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to Singapore in 2012, the two countries established the Strategic Partnership, which "laid the foundation for close cooperation" and "brought substantial benefit" to both countries over the last 12 years.

Lam's visit on Mar. 12, 2025 was thus significant, as it was the first visit by a Vietnamese leader of a similar rank since 2012, said PM Wong.

The timing is also noteworthy, as 2025 marks the 60th and 80th anniversaries of Singapore and Vietnam's independence, respectively.

 'Robust economic collaborations' & 'strong people-to-people ties'

PM Wong also stated during his toast speech that the relationship between Singapore and Vietnam is marked by "robust economic collaborations" and "strong people-to-people ties".

In 2024, Singapore was Vietnam's top foreign investor, and Vietnam's exports to Singapore had "increased significantly".

While Singapore has supported Vietnam's human resource development, the large and growing Vietnamese community in Singapore has also contributed to its economy and enriched its cultural diversity, said PM Wong.

'New era' for S'pore & Vietnam cooperation

With the CSP, PM Wong said Singapore and Vietnam's cooperation will enter a "new era", as it sets out how the two countries will work together in strategic sectors, such as defence and security.

Concurrently, the partnership will spur "innovation-driven and green growth" in both countries and strengthen the resilience of the Asean region by putting in place "building blocks" for the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement and Asean Power Grid.

Besides elevating the bilateral relationship, PM Wong and Lam also witnessed the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and agreements.

Areas covered by these MOUs and agreements included digital transformation, combatting transnational crime, and deepening financial cooperation, amongst others.

In particular, the two countries will also expand the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs), bringing the total number of VSIPs to 20 across 14 provinces in Vietnam.

PM Wong to visit Vietnam soon

According to PM Wong, through the CSP, Singapore and Vietnam intend to strengthen Asean and highlight the importance for like-minded states to work closely together, especially "in the uncertain global environment" today.

He thanked Lam for their discussions and praised him for being "a partner who is committed to ensuring that Singapore-Vietnam ties continue to flourish for many, many more years to come".

"I look forward to visiting Vietnam before the end of the month to further progress on our cooperation," added PM Wong.

Top image via Ministry of Digital Development and Information