Vietnam-Singapore relations

[Viet]

President Tony Tan Keng Yam (L) shaking hands with his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang during a welcoming ceremony held at the presidential palace in Hanoi (AFP PHOTO/Vietnam News Agency)
By Dylan Loh | Posted: 27 April 2012 1658 hrs

HO CHI MINH: Singapore and Vietnam are set to take relations a notch higher and extend cooperation beyond the economic sphere.

Cooperation in promoting international peace and security, anti-terrorism, and deterrence of transnational crime are on the cards as both countries establish a Strategic Partnership.

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean will be in Vietnam to discuss further cooperation in these areas.

Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam said there's room for relations to be taken further.

Wrapping up his first overseas visit as Head of State to Vietnam, he said on Friday that it's worthwhile for Singapore's Trade and Industry, Defence, and Home Affairs ministries to be involved in developing the Strategic Partnership framework.

He said the existing Connectivity Framework Agreement is progressing well.

The agreement is the overarching pillar of bilateral economic cooperation covering areas of education and training, finance, investment, information technology and telecommunications, trade and services, and transportation,

In the economic sphere, Dr Tan said Singapore companies can be encouraged to partner Vietnamese firms to invest in neighbouring countries like Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

"The Vietnamese companies, over the last 20 years, have matured their growth. They're now in the position, not only to develop and invest within Vietnam, but also to invest outside Vietnam. We have expertise in this area of developing investments outside own country. I think that this could be a very fruitful area and a new dimension to cooperation," said Dr Tan.

Dr Tan said both sides are considering the possibility of building a sixth industrial park in Ho Chi Minh City.

Earlier this week, Singapore was given the green light to build a fifth industrial park in Vietnam, worth over US$330 million.

The 600-hectare project in Quang Ngai province will be developed along with a 520-hectare commercial and residential site.

The Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks have been hailed as symbols of the warm ties between both countries.

Turning to trade, President Tan said it's important that countries do not raise more barriers.

Hence, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which includes Singapore and Vietnam, plays a part towards greater economic integration and development of an Asia Pacific Free Trade Area.

The issue of conflict in the South China Sea was also raised during the visit.

In discussions, Dr Tan said both Singapore and Vietnam agreed that the parties involved should resolve the situation peacefully.

Vietnam is a claimant state to disputed territory - the source of the conflict, while Singapore is not.

Dr Tan said it's important to ensure freedom of navigation of ships in the South China Sea.

He said disputes between the claimant countries should be resolved in accordance with the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.

On the slowing global economy, Dr Tan said Singapore and Vietnam share a similar outlook in harnessing opportunities in an emerging Asia so it's important for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to continue to progress towards establishing an economic community by 2015.

Dr Tan said such a community will boost economic development within the region and create new opportunities for member countries.

Dr Tan also said the General Secretary of Vietnam's Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, will visit Singapore in the second half of this year.

Singapore-Vietnam relations to move beyond economic sphere - Channel NewsAsia

 

[Viet]

A home away from home
| vir.com.vn | Aug 07, 2012 10:31 am
Successful Singaporean firms are expanding their footprint in this market. Nhu Ngoc reports.

Sembcorp Industries in April made a big investment expansion stride in Vietnam by obtaining an investment certificate for an industrial park and township project in central Quang Ngai province, its fifth integrated urban development in Vietnam.

At the same time, Quang Ngai People’s Committee awarded an in-principle approval to the group for developing a 1,200 megawatt power plant.

Sembcorp Industries announced it would invest $2 billion into the power project. Meanwhile, the industrial park and township, developed through a joint venture with Becamex IDC, Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks and Township Development JV, will have total investment capital of $337 million.

By developing two new projects in Vietnam, Sembcorp Industries indicates it sees potential opportunities in this market.

Now, many other Singaporean firms are following in Sembcorp’s footsteps.

Singapore is now the fourth largest investor in Vietnam, with 1,063 projects worth $23.3 billion till the end of July, according to Vietnam’s Foreign Investment Agency. In 2012’s first seven months, Singaporean companies committed to invest in 54 projects capitalised at $178 million. At the same time, 25 investors committed to expand investment with total capital of $102.6 million.

According to a survey by Singapore’s United Oversea Bank Limited, Vietnam is in the top five Asia markets where Singapore’s corporate leaders are eyeing up, with 15 per cent of business leaders claiming Vietnam was their first priority for overseas investment.

“We view Vietnam as an attractive investment destination, given its favourable demographics, strong foreign direct investment with many international corporations choosing Vietnam as an alternative production base to China coupled with its pro-business policies,” said a Mapletree Vietnam representative.

Mapletree entered Vietnam in 2005 with its first foray into Binh Duong province to set up its first office and the development of Mapletree Logistics Centre in the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park I. The centre has been fully leased since it opened in March 2007 and its success is followed by the development of Mapletree Binh Duong Logistics Park in Vietnam-Singapore industrial Park II.

The investor is also building a Mapletree Business City @ Binh Duong, a first-class business park development in southern Binh Duong province and a Mapletree Bac Ninh Logistics Park in northern Bac Ninh province.

Until now, Mapletree’s committed investment in Vietnam is $1 billion in logistics, industrial, office, retail and commercial real estate projects in Binh Duong, Bac Ninh, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
“We continue to look out for good investment and development projects in Vietnam to fuel our expansion, we will evaluate opportunities in other provinces as they arise,” said the representative.

CapitaLand is another Singaporean investor expanding its business in Vietnam. The developer in partnership with Vietnam’s Khang Dien Company launched PARCSpring, its first value housing project in Vietnam, last month. Meanwhile, Mulberry Lane, CapitaLand’s first residential project in Hanoi, will be celebrating its topping-out this month to mark the successful completion of the main structural works.

“Given Vietnam’s strong economic growth coupled with rapid urbanisation and a substantially large group of young and aspiring middle income earners, the underlying demand for housing needs will remain strong, especially in the mass market housing segment,” said Yip Hoong Mun, CapitaLand in Vietnam deputy CEO.

“To ensure good value and keep prices attractive for our homebuyers, we will acquire sites that reasonably priced and are supported by good transportation network and enjoy easy access to the city centers,” he added.

To meet the local demand, CapitaLand plans to introduce apartments being affordable to the genuine buyers whose mortgage repayment is pegged at around 40 per cent of homebuyers’ average household income.

Even as Vietnam’s economy is slowing, Singapore’s business leaders believe that investing in Vietnam is better than in the United States and Europe, according to the United Overseas Bank survey.

Foreign Investment Agency statistics show that Singaporean companies’ investments spread in many sectors, including urban development, infrastructure, education, retail and healthcare.

In the urban development, apart from CapitaLand, Mapletree and Sembcorp, other developers like Keppel Land, GoucoLand and Banyan Tree have been investing in Vietnam.

In the education sector, KinderWorld has embarking on a major initiative to establish a Super School concept in Binh Duong New City. Singapore International School @ Binh Duong New City will comprise of a through-trained education from pre-nursery to high school.

And in healthcare sector, the Shangri-La Healthcare Investment Pte is building a $400 million International Hi-Tech Healthcare Park in Ho Chi Minh City. The construction is expected to complete this year, making the park be the largest healthcare centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

[susan12]

Vietnam should try more to be as developed as its parter Singapore.

 

[Battle of Bach Dang River]

VN, Singapore Air Forces strengthen cooperation
22/08/2012 15:09 GMT+7

[VNA] Deputy Minister of Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty hosted a reception for visiting Singapore’s Chief of Air Force Ng Chee Meng in Hanoi on August 21.

Speaking at the reception, Ty, who is also Chief of the General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army, affirmed that Vietnam ’s Ministry of Defence supports the contents discussed in the previous meeting between Major General Ng Chee Meng and Chief of the Vietnam ’s Air Defence and Air Force, Lieutenant General Phuong Minh Hoa.

These discussions included the exchanges of delegations between the two Air Forces, promoting exchanges among young officers, cooperation in personnel training, and information sharing and experiences on rescue activities at sea, airmen training and other issues of mutual concern.

Ty expressed his belief that the visit will contribute to boosting the cooperation between the two armies in general as well as the two air forces in particular.-VNA

 

[Battle of Bach Dang River]

Viet Nam signs legal deal with Singapore
Updated August, 28 2012

HA NOI – Viet Nam is willing to cooperate with Singapore in extradition, judicial assistance, and training of law enforcement officers amidst an increasingly complicated situation in the region.
President Truong Tan Sang made the statement while receiving Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean in Ha Noi yestersday, who is visiting Viet Nam to sign a cooperation agreement on transnational crime prevention and investigation.

Highly valuing the Singaporean Ministry of Home Affairs' support, the President suggested the ministry continue deepening relations between the two countries and sectors.
In the future, both sides should continue promoting the implementation of commitments in their cooperation documents and proposal studies on cooperation contents, Sang said, before adding that Viet Nam was pleased at the results of the socio-economic and political-security cooperation between the two countries.

Viet Nam signs legal deal with Singapore - Politics & Laws - VietNam News

 

[Viet]

Dear Mod! Hello Hu Songshan,

I think it is not needed to keep this thread separated. Can you pls merge this thread into the one "Vietnam-ASEAN relations". Thanks.

 

[Battle of Bach Dang River]

S'pore and Vietnam to sign strategic partnership agreement in 2013
AsiaOne
Wednesday, Sep 12, 2012

SINGAPORE - General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Singapore on Wednesday, Sept 12. During the talks, both leaders agreed to work towards signing a Strategic Partnership agreement in 2013, on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between both countries.

The Strategic Partnership agreement will elevate the existing links between Singapore and Vietnam, and open up new directions for cooperation in various areas, including education and defence.

To ensure the long-term growth and prosperity of the region, both countries agreed to work together to realise the goal of building an ASEAN Community by 2015.

Both leaders also discussed the situation in the South China Sea, and agreed it should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law. They also hoped that ASEAN-China discussions on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) could commence as soon as possible.

Mr Nguyen is on official visit to Singapore from Sept 12 to 14 at the invitation of PM Lee.

natlim@sph.com.sg

 

[Viet]

Vietnam Investment Review - Coverage - Strategic Singapore tie-up is a win-win partnership

At present, Vietnam has strategic partnerships with India, the UK, Japan, Spain, South Korea and Germany. The US and Indonesia are also seeking such a relationship with Vietnam.

Vietnam also has “comprehensive strategic partnerships” with China, Laos and Russia.

Hm...what is the difference between strategic & comprehensive strategic?