Singapore (VNA) – Party General Secretary To Lam’s official visit to Singapore from March 11-13, marked with the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), has been widely praised by public opinion as a historical milestone in bilateral ties and a powerful catalyst for deepening cooperation across fields in a more substantive and effective manner.
On March 12, following a meeting with the Vietnamese leader and the upgrade of bilateral relations, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong wrote on his Facebook page that the visit is “especially meaningful as Singapore marks 60 years of independence, while Vietnam commemorates its 80th anniversary.”
He noted that the partnership is Singapore’s first with an ASEAN member state. “It reflects the close links and trust between our nations and the immense potential for even greater collaboration. The CSP reaffirms our shared commitment to working together in new areas such as renewable energy, carbon credits, and digital transformation,” he wrote. The leader also announced his upcoming visit to Vietnam this month to strengthen ties and explore new cooperation opportunities.
Speaking with a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Singapore, Professor Bilveer Singh from the National University of Singapore highlighted the remarkable journey of the countries’ diplomatic relations since it was established in 1973. The recent upgrade symbolises the level of their bond and connection.
The scholar noted that it is a strategic and comprehensive relationship, encompassing politics, economy, society, culture, psychology, and technology. While acknowledging certain differences, Singh stressed that Vietnam and Singapore share significant common ground, particularly in politics and economy.
Singaporean news outlets, including The Straits Times, CNA, and The Business Times, extensively covered the visit, spotlighting the growing political trust between the two nations and the historic milestone of their relations upgrade.
CNA cited Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that both leaders – Party General Secretary Lam and PM Wong – reaffirmed the sound bilateral ties, which have been reinforced through regular high-level exchanges and close economic linkages. They also agreed on the importance of joint efforts and the ways the two countries can contribute to regional initiatives such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the ASEAN Power Grid.
Other Singaporean publications, including The Business Times and Singapore Law Watch, also highlighted how the upgraded partnership marks a "new era" in bilateral relations. Their reports underscor༒ed the sides’ commitment to deepening cooperation in security and defence, as well as in emerging fields like clean energy, digital economy, and green economy./.
