Speech by President S R Nathan in honour of President Nguyen Minh Triet

Your Excellency President Nguyen Minh Triet and Madam Tran Thi Kim Chi Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

1    It is with great pleasure that I welcome Your Excellency and Madam to Singapore.  My wife and I fondly remember our visit to Vietnam in February last year.  We are delighted to be able to reciprocate the very warm reception and gracious hospitality that we received during our visit to your beautiful country. 

Your Excellency

2    Your State Visit culminates a year of high level exchanges between Singapore and Vietnam and serves to further cement our already strong bilateral ties.  The past year saw visits by senior Vietnamese leaders, including Vice President of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Kien and Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.  From Singapore, several leaders including Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, DPM/Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean and Foreign Minister George Yeo made official visits to Vietnam.  Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will also visit Vietnam in January 2010 at the invitation of PM Nguyen Tan Dung.  These exchanges of high level visits underscore the importance that both countries attach to our bilateral relationship.

3    Our strong political ties are complemented by equally strong economic ties that continue to deepen even amidst the global financial crisis.  The bilateral economic relationship is institutionalised via the Connectivity Framework Agreement which provides an excellent platform for enhancing cooperation between our two countries.  I am pleased to note that Singapore was Vietnam’s 5th largest trading partner last year and remains one of its top five investors with registered cumulative investments of US$16.9 billion.  The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) projects remain a shining symbol of our close economic co-operation and growing ties between the two countries.  Since its establishment in Binh Duong province in 1996, the VSIP has expanded to Bac Ninh province and Hai Phong city.  I am delighted to hear that our two Prime Ministers will officiate the groundbreaking ceremony of the Hai Phong project in January 2010.  Your Excellency's support for the VSIP in its formative years in Binh Duong province will always be remembered and appreciated by Singapore.

Your Excellency

4    We should continue to look for new areas of cooperation as the relationship expands.  I am pleased to note that the recent signing of the bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement represents another key milestone in our bilateral relationship.  We hope that it will provide the platform to further develop the friendship between our two defence organisations. 

5    I am also pleased to note that people to people links are accelerating.  There are growing numbers of Singaporeans visiting Vietnam.  Many Vietnamese also visit Singapore to work, study and also for recreation.  Cultural links are also expanding.  Last year, the National Heritage Board organised a Vietnam Festival in Singapore to mark the celebration of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Vietnam.  Such people to people exchanges and cultural events serve as bridges to promote better understanding and appreciation of each other's cultures.  This will in turn further boost bilateral ties.

Your Excellency

6    Other than the close bilateral links at all levels, we also work closely in ASEAN.  Vietnam assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship next year and will play an important role in furthering the implementation of the ASEAN Charter.  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.  This exciting project will be conceptualised and shaped during Vietnam's upcoming Chairmanship.  Singapore pledges our continued support in working closely with Vietnam towards advancing our common ASEAN aspirations, and a successful Chairmanship year for Vietnam.

7    Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, may I now invite you to rise and join me in a toast:

• to the good health and continued success of His Excellency President Nguyen Min Triet and Madam Chi
• to the peace and prosperity of Vietnam; and
• to the good friendship between Singapore and Vietnam.