Enhancing APEC Linkage

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Singapore, from November 13-17, 2009, President Nguyen Minh Triet will attend APEC Summit 17 and meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Vietnam Business Forum had an interview with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Dao Viet Trung on Vietnam-Singapore relations and Vietnam’s contribution to APEC.

Vietnam and Singapore established diplomatic relations 36 years ago and developed an even closer relationship. How do you see the achievements and efforts of the two governments to promote bilateral relations?

Since August 1, 1973 when diplomatic relations were formalized, Vietnam-Singapore relationship has been increasingly developed in several fields: politics, national defense, economics, trade, investment, education, culture, judicial, etc. The two sides have signed many important documents creating framework for friendship and all-round cooperation, especially Vietnam-Singapore Joint Statement on All-round Cooperation in 21^st Century (signed in 2004) and Vietnam-Singapore Linkage Framework Agreement (2005).

The political relations in general and relations between leaders of the two countries have been been solidified by the exchange of visits such as President S.R. Nathan (February, 2008), Minister Adviser Lee Kuan Yew (April 2009), Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Security Coordination and Minister of Justice Jayakumar (August, 2007), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Teo Chee Hean (September, 2009), Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (December 2007), Foreign Minister George Yeo (May 2009), from Vietnamese side were President Nguyen Minh Triet (November 2009), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem (May, 2008), Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai (July 2009), and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong (March, 2008). (August, 2007), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Teo Chee Hean (September, 2009), Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (December 2007), Foreign Minister George Yeo (May 2009), from Vietnamese side were President Nguyen Minh Triet (November 2009), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem (May, 2008), Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai (July 2009), and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong (March, 2008).

In economics, since late 20^th century, Singapore has always been a leading investment and trade partner with Vietnam. The bilateral trade value increased year on year, from US$3.25 billion in 2000 to over US$12 billion in 2008 (23 % more than 2007). By August 2009, Singapore has nearly 750 investment projects in Vietnam worth US$17 billion, ranking fifth among foreign countries in Vietnam. Singapore investments cover many areas: industry, services, infrastructure, construction, real estate, etc. The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park 1 (VSIP) in Binh Duong, inaugurated in 1997 by former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet and Minister Adviser Lee Kuan Yew, has become the symbol of the bilateral relations and the most successful industrial zone in Vietnam. In general, Singapore investment projects are efficient, contributing significantly to the export, employment and economic growth of Vietnam.

The relations in other fields are also expanding: national defense, education, finance, law, etc. Singapore is strong and helps Vietnam in such areas as science and technology, human resources development, finance, banking and tourism. Since 2000, Singapore granted 200 scholarships each year. The number of Vietnamese self-financed students also increased. There are presently some 7,000 Vietnamese students in Singapore. In tourism in 2008, there were 239,000 Vietnamese tourists visiting Singapore and 160,000 Singaporeans visiting Vietnam. Those achievements have proven the dynamism and growth of the bilateral relations, meeting the demand and interests of the two countries and the commitments of the two governments to promote friendship and all-round cooperation. No doubt such cooperation has also contributed to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world over.

How does diplomacy contribute to bilateral relations?

Trade-economic relation is an important pillar in the cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore. The relation has developed most successfully in recent years in which diplomacy has its own contribution.

Diplomatic services of the two countries have been playing an important role and serving as the bridge for bilateral trade and economic relations. Economic issues have been included in high-level meetings and visits to facilitate and encourage business activities. Many leaders of ministries, localities and businesses have accompanied high-ranking visits, taking part in business forums and signing important economic and investment agreements. Those activities help Singaporean investors understand more on economic policy and environment and make bigger and long-term investments in Vietnam.

For its part, the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore has also made great efforts to promote the understanding of Singaporean businesses on Vietnamese policy and called for more investments into Vietnam. The embassy serves as a bridge for businesses of the two countries to increase their business activities and as a guide for Vietnamese businesses in Singapore.

For instance, in May 2009, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo visited provinces in Central Vietnam. Right after the visit, a delegation of leading Singaporean businesses arrived in the provinces, surveyed and started a new series of investments in Vietnam. I think those are specific contributions of diplomacy.

How will be the role and contribution of Vietnam at the APEC Summit 17 in Singapore (November 14-15, 2009)?

APEC 17 takes place at a time when all countries are trying to overcome the world economic and financial crisis. It is the time for the leaders to consider new models of development for the post-crisis period. For APEC, after 20 years of development, it has proven itself as an important regional economic forum, linking the world with the most dynamic economies and contributing to the promotion of free trade, investment and economic development in the region. However, in the world of fast development, APEC faces several challenges. Consequently, APEC leaders have decided to focus on two main issues: maintaining growth and regional linkage.

Joining APEC over ten years ago, Vietnam has always been an active and responsible member. Vietnam played host to APEC Summit in 2006 with the approval of Hanoi Action Plan and APEC Reform Programme promoting the cooperation and efficiency of APEC activities. In 2009, in spite of difficulties at home, Vietnam will continue to play its role and contribute to the success of the Summit. In July 2009, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized the third meeting of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) with good success compiling all ABAC recommendations to be submitted to APEC 17. Vietnam has also organized successfully the Regional Meeting on Combating Natural Calamities to enhance APEC cooperation in this field.

Posted by VBN on Nov 16 2009. Filed under Int'l Cooperation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry