Within the framework of official visit of Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the afternoon of June 21, 2021, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Minister Vivian Balakrishnan at the Office of the President.
At the meeting, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has lauded the widespread and effective development of Vietnam– Singapore friendship and suggested both sides facilitate exchanges at all levels in suitable forms amid the pandemic, and proposed ways to effectively realise the Vietnam – Singapore economic connectivity agreement. Regarding to investment, He hailed Singapore as the top investor in Việt Nam since 2020 among 70 countries and territories investing in the country and affirmed to create favorable conditions and encourage Singaporean firms to do business in the country. Besides, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc called for tapping advantages of free trade agreements, especially the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership while stepping up cooperation and information sharing within the framework of ASEAN initiatives on circular economy to ensure green and sustainable development.
After delivering the greeting of the President and Prime Minister of Singapore to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan affirmed the Singaporean Government’s consistent stance on further developing strategic partnership with Vietnam. He also hailed Vietnam’s success in fulfilling the dual goals of controlling COVID-19 pandemic and maintaining socio-economic development, becoming one of a few nations to record positive growth last year with an open economic environment and a trustworthy destination for Singaporean investors. Singapore's Foreign Minister thanked President Nguyen Xuan Phuc for the attention and direction; pledged to push forward fields of Vietnam interest.