Vietnam's To Lam Forges Stronger Ties with Singapore

During his State visit to Singapore on May 30, Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam met with Parliament Speaker Seah Kian Peng, emphasizing the robust nature of the bilateral relationship and seeking new avenues for collaboration between Vietnam and Singapore.

Speaker Seah Kian Peng extended a warm welcome to President To Lam, alongside his wife and Vietnamese high-level delegation. He acknowledged Vietnam's growing influence in both regional and global contexts, congratulating To Lam on his recent re-election as General Secretary and his new role as President. Additionally, he lauded To Lam's impactful keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, which echoed mutual aspirations and strategic interests.

The leaders reflected on the significant strides made since upgrading their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2025. They acknowledged a surge in cooperation in political, economic, technological, and people-to-people dimensions, revealing the solid trust that defines their relationship.

President To Lam noted that the political trust between the nations is unwavering, while trade, investment, and connectivity continue to flourish. He highlighted the 23 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) as a testament to their economic collaboration and a model for regional partnerships.

The discussions also touched on future collaboration in key sectors poised to shape the economy, including digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, clean energy, carbon credits, innovation, financial hubs, and supply chain resilience. Both leaders recognized these sectors as critical to enhancing economic competitiveness and regional stability.

President To Lam acknowledged the vital contributions of their legislative bodies in fostering bilateral agreements and creating an advantageous legal framework for collaboration. He proposed bolstering exchanges among lawmakers, particularly among younger representatives, women legislators, and parliamentary committees, to enhance mutual understanding and exchange governance practices.

The meeting concluded with a unified commitment to elevate parliamentary collaboration and bolster ASEAN's future. Speaker Seah Kian Peng expressed his hope for Vietnam’s proactive support of Singapore as ASEAN Chair in 2027, while both leaders reiterated their dedication to a resilient and integrated Southeast Asia.