Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh and Singaporean Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Bilahari Kausikan co-chaired the sixth political consultation in Singapore on Thursday.
At the meeting, the two sides expressed their pleasure at the rapid and strong development of the two countries’ friendship and comprehensive cooperation, especially after the official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in January 2010, and the state visit to Singapore by President Truong Tan Sang last September.
The two sides held that the two countries have formed favourable basis and foundation for lifting bilateral relations to a new height.
They affirmed to increase exchanges and dialogues via all channels and at all levels to seek strategic cooperative contents in the short-, medium- and long-term, for the benefits of the two people, for peace, stability, cooperation and development of ASEAN and the whole region.
The two officials also affirmed to intensify cooperation in all fields, especially those within the framework of the Vietnam-Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement, such as finance-banking, investment, trade-service, transportation, education-training, post and telecommunications and IT.
Regarding regional and international issues of common concern, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in ASEAN and accelerate the building of ASEAN Community.
They held that ASEAN is affirming its role and prestige in the region and the world, thus the bloc should make more efforts to overcome challenges and ensure its centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
The two sides spoke highly of ASEAN efforts in dealing with East Sea issue, including the acceleration of the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and affirmed to work with other ASEAN countries and China to speed up the compilation of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).
Singapore said it will support Vietnam in the negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
The two sides were content with the effective cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries. They agreed to regularly maintain the political consultation to tighten mutual trust and understanding. In the spirit, the two sides decided to conduct the seventh political consultation in Vietnam next year.
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