Singapore, Vietnam to Deepen Cooperation With Wide-Ranging Pact

Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Will Take Ties to a New Era: PM Wong

- Alyssa Woo

Singapore and Vietnam are taking ties to a "new era," committing on March 12 to establishing a wide-ranging pact that will deepen cooperation in security and defense as well as emerging areas such as renewable energy and the digital economy.

The new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) will be an upgrade of Singapore and Vietnam's Strategic Partnership established in 2013 and builds on the Green Digital Economic Partnership set up in 2023.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at a joint press conference with visiting Vietnamese leader To Lam: "This CSP is significant for Singapore because it is our first with an Asean member state. It reflects the high level of trust between Singapore and Vietnam, the good work that we have done together, and the potential to do even more."

PM Wong added later during an official lunch for Mr Lam held at the Conrad Centennial Singapore that the CSP "sets out how both countries will work together in strategic areas like defense and security, combating transnational crime, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief."

"Importantly, it also reflects our shared commitment to deepen cooperation in new and emerging areas, including renewable energy, carbon credits, subsea cable connectivity, and the digital economy."

At the conference held at Parliament House, PM Wong and Mr Lam, who is the Communist Party of Vietnam's General Secretary, agreed to focus special attention on a range of areas.