Vietnamese President Triet in S'pore as part of 2-day state visit
By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 16 November 2009 1845 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Vietnam's President Nguyen Minh Triet said international cooperation, including that with Singapore, helped with the country's initial economic recovery

The President cited the expansion of the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Parks as a symbol of successful tie-ups between the two countries.

The Vietnamese President met Singapore's President S R Nathan on Monday morning at the Istana.

His visit is just one of several high level exchanges between the two ASEAN members over the last two years.

They expressed satisfaction with the strengthening of bilateral ties.

They welcomed the regular exchange of visits between both countries and called for greater cooperation and linkages at all levels.

One of the main factors in forging strong bilateral ties between the two countries is the expanding trade and business contacts.

Singapore ranks consistently as one of Vietnam's most important trading partners.

In 2008, bilateral trade reached US$11 billion, an increase of 20 per cent over the same period in 2007.

The President also met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong as well as Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

With Prime Minister Lee, he discussed international and regional developments, including the recently concluded APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM), and welcomed the ASEAN-US Leaders Meeting held on 15 November 2009.

And with Mr Goh, he reaffirmed the strong economic cooperation between the two countries, in particular, the good progress made across all six sectors of the bilateral Connectivity Framework Agreement.

In his meeting with Minister Mentor, the two leaders discussed how both sides can work to enhance connectivity, trade and investments.

Both leaders also agreed on the importance of education and human resource development.

At a state banquet, the Vietnam President congratulated Singapore on successfully organising the recent APEC meetings.

During the state banquet, he said he was looking forward to receiving Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the ground breaking ceremony of The Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park 4 in Hai Phong City in early 2010.

He added that as ASEAN Chairman in 2010, Vietnam hopes to work closely with Singapore and the rest of the ASEAN members to quickly put the ASEAN Charter into practice.

Singapore President S R Nathan, said he also hoped for a quick turnaround for the ASEAN Charter.

President Nathan said: "Our common goal of establishing an ASEAN Community by 2015 is an ambitious one and Vietnam's leadership will be important in guiding ASEAN's urgent work under the three community blueprints.

“A vision recently articulated by ASEAN Leaders at the 15th ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin is that of an ASEAN with enhanced connectivity, serving as a hub within East Asia."

The Vietnamese president's two-day state visit to Singapore ends on Tuesday. - CNA/vm