Singaporean President begins visit to Vietnam
Ha Noi, Feb. 7 (VNA) -- President S.R. Nathan begins today, Feb. 7, a five-day official visit to Viet Nam, the first by a Singaporean president since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1973.
The visit, also the President's first one abroad since his assuming office in August 1999, is aimed at expanding multiform cooperation between Viet Nam and Singapore.
The relationship between the two countries has blossomed especially since Viet Nam became a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995.
The two countries have exchanged high-level delegations. Vietnamese top leaders making visits to Singapore were former Party General Secretary Do Muoi (Oct. 1993), President Tran Duc Luong (March 1998), former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet (Nov. 1991 and May 1994), National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh (Sept. 1995), the then Deputy PM Phan Van Khai (Oct. 1992), and the then Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam (Feb. 1995). Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong visited Viet Nam in March 1994 and May 1996, Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew in April 1992, Nov. 1993 and Nov 1997, and so did many other ministers.
The two countries have signed seven cooperation agreements.
A leading industrial country in the Southeast Asian region, Singapore has actively assisted Viet Nam to develop science, technology, human resources, tourism, finance and banking.
Singapore has been Viet Nam's biggest trading partner, with two-way trade soaring from US 2.16 billion in 1996 to USD 3.3 billion last year, including more than USD 1 billion in exports from Viet Nam.
The island nation is also a leading investor in Viet Nam, pouring USD 6.77 billion into 239 projects, with the biggest one being the USD 210 million Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Park in southern Binh Duong province - a model of bilateral cooperation.
Strong in education and training, Singapore is currently providing about 200 short and long-term scholarships to Vietnamese students.
Singapore is also an active supporter of Viet Nam in many regional and inter-regional cooperation forums such as ASEAN, ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting), APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), and the United Nations. The country is supporting Viet Nam's joining the World Trade Organisation and expanding liaison with other countries for peace, independence and development in the world.--VNA
