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Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính during his phone talk with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien-Loong on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien-Loong on Tuesday said his country gives high priority to relations with Việt Nam, during phone discussions with his Vietnamese counterpart Phạm Minh Chính.

Calling Chính to congratulate him over his election as Prime Minister of Việt Nam, Lee also appreciated Việt Nam’s success in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and in socio-economic development as well as external relations.

In reply, Chính said he hoped to work closely with the Singaporean PM to further promote the strategic partnership between the two countries across all fields.

The two government leaders rejoiced at the positive developments in bilateral cooperation despite difficulties brought by COVID-19. They noted that Singapore was the biggest investor in Việt Nam in 2020 and the first quarter of 2021.

They agreed to bolster joint work in fields of the countries’ potential and strength, such as finance, information technology, agro-fisheries, education-training, and infrastructure, while seeking to expand cooperation in areas related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution such as clean energy, smart city, innovation, digital economy, as well as the sharing of experience in management, economic development, and human resources training.

The two sides agreed to boost cooperation in responding to COVID-19 and facilitating the repatriation of each other’s citizens, and accelerate negotiations on travel preferential regulations between the two countries toward resuming safe commercial flights that suit the situation in each country and in the region to promote bilateral trade, investment and tourism ties.

Chính appreciated the close and effective cooperation between Việt Nam and Singapore at regional and international forums, and thanked Singapore for supporting Việt Nam as Chair of ASEAN in 2020. He asked Singapore to continue backing Việt Nam in its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the remainder of 2021.

The two PMs affirmed their resolve to make active contributions to building a strong, united and resilient ASEAN Community with a central role and common voice in regional and international peace and security issues.

Chính invited the Singaporean PM to visit Việt Nam at a suitable time. Lee accepted the invitation and expressed his wish to welcome the Vietnamese PM to Singapore. — VNS

A view of the UN debate hosted by Việt Nam on Monday from Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo

NEW YORK – Monday’s high-level open debate on ‘Cooperation between the UN and regional organisations in enhancing confidence-building and dialogue in conflict prevention and resolution’ chaired by Vietnamese President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc in his capacity as President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in April has been praised by the international community.

Ambassador Olof Skoog, head of the EU Delegation to the UN, said: “It was a very good debate.”

The EU side is “very strongly supportive of the UN,” the ambassador told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s correspondent in New York.

The UN needs support as it “cannot do everything everywhere by itself,” he said, highlighting the important role of regional organisations in conflict prevention and resolution since they have trust and confidence among parties in conflict.

“So as long as they always follow the UN Charter, respect the international law, I think that’s kind of locally driven diplomacy,” he said.

Ambassador Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Permanent Representative of Laos to the UN, said Việt Nam has played an increasingly important role in the UN, especially the UNSC.

According to the Lao Ambassador, the matters proposed by Việt Nam in the debate are significant as they look towards promoting co-operation within the UN as well as between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations.

Hailing the smooth and effective collaboration between the UN and regional organisations, he said the two sides had made efforts to enhance ties.

In an interview with the VNA, Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union (AU) to the UN, appreciated Việt Nam for running the high-level open debate.

She said the role of regional organisations and regional co-operation as a whole is fundamental for building confidence and promoting dialogue in conflict prevention and resolution.

“From the AU perspective, we have signed a joint framework for enhanced partnership in peace and security as well as development with the UN over three years ago,” the ambassador said.

“And since then co-operation between the two organisations has been strengthened to the institutionalisation of our joint efforts, reinforcing our collaboration and coherence, and harmonising strategies and approaches.”

Also on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir held meetings with Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the UN. The UN officials commended the debate chaired by Việt Nam.

Quý also met with Ambassador Guillermo Fernández de Soto, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the UN, during which the two sides compared notes on activities of the UNSC regarding the implementation of the peace agreement signed by the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016.

Quý affirmed Việt Nam’s support for the peace process in Colombia and its wish that all relevant sides will continue with dialogue to deal with the present challenges, especially through established mechanisms in accordance with the peace agreement.

Việt Nam will work with the UN and the international community to support the Colombian government, and promote peace, security and development in Colombia, he said.

Asked about the UNSC’s open debate, Quý told the VNA that the participating countries, both members and non-members of the UNSC, commended Việt Nam’s preparations for the event. VNS

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held phone talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday, the Vietnam Government Portal reported.

During the conversation, PM Lee offered his congratulations to the newly-elected Vietnamese government leader and praised Vietnam’s successful organization of the 13th National Party Congress, effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as socio-economic development and foreign affairs.

The premier affirmed that Singapore gives high priority to fostering relations with Vietnam.

PM Chinh thanked PM Lee for his congratulatory message and expressed his wish to work closely with the Singaporean leader to further strengthen the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership across all fields.

The two premiers rejoiced at the positive developments in bilateral cooperation despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, Singapore was the largest foreign investor in Vietnam, while the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) model is operating very effectively, becoming a symbol for the success in economic collaboration between the two countries.

The leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in such fields as finance, information technology, agro-fisheries, education and training, infrastructure, clean energy, smart city development, digital economy and digitization, economic management, and human resource training.

Both sides will also boost coordination in response to the COVID-19 epidemic, facilitate the repatriation of citizens, and promote the negotiation on travel regulations between the two countries to enhance trade, investment, and tourism cooperation.

PM Chinh applauded the close and effective cooperation between both sides at regional and international forums.

He thanked Singapore for having supported Vietnam during its ASEAN chairmanship in 2020, asking the city-state to continue backing Vietnam in fulfilling its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2021.

The Vietnamese PM took the occasion to invite his Singaporean counterpart to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.

PM Lee also expressed his wish to welcome PM Chinh on a visit to Singapore in the near future.

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