Speech by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Dinner Reception hosted by HE Le Hoang Quan, Ho Chi Minh City People's Party Committee Chairman

Your Excellency Chairman Le Hoang Quan

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

        I would like to thank Chairman Quan for the warm and generous hospitality accorded to me and my delegation. 

        My last official visit to Vietnam was in November 1996, when I was then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence. During that visit, I had the opportunity to visit Ho Chi Minh City which I still remember fondly to this day. Sixteen years on, I am truly impressed by the changes that have taken place in your vibrant and dynamic city. The vast development and progress that I observed during my ride through the city today are remarkable. This can be attributed to the strong and far-sighted leadership in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as well as the drive and diligence of the Vietnamese people.

        As the economic hub of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City plays an important role in Vietnam’s progress. Ho Chi Minh City continues to enjoy a steady growth rate despite the global economic situation and is the top Foreign Direct Investment destination in Vietnam. I am happy to see that Singapore has contributed to this progress, and was the top investor for Ho Chi Minh City last year. Singapore’s cumulative registered investments in Ho Chi Minh City are estimated at US$6.6 billion as of March 2012.

        Apart from the strong bilateral economic cooperation, our two countries also share strong people-to-people links. There are about 3,000 Singaporeans living and working in Ho Chi Minh City today. I was told that many of the Vietnamese students who study in Singapore are from Ho Chi Minh City. There are also more tourists from Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore visiting each other. I am confident that such exchanges between our people will help further strengthen the excellent bilateral relations between our two countries.

Your Excellency,

        It is my great pleasure to be here today to witness first-hand the developments in Ho Chi Minh City. I am confident that Ho Chi Minh City will continue to play an important role in Vietnam’s transition to an industrialized and modern economy by 2020.

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

May I now invite all of you to rise and join me in a toast:

·         to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Vietnam; and

·         to the enduring friendship between Singapore and Vietnam.