(VOVWorld) – Singapore’s President Tony Tan Keng Yam is on a state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.

The two Presidents are aiming to build a Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership. Photo: VNA

During talks following the welcoming ceremony on Monday in Hanoi, both Presidents said they were extremely pleased with the current level of friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries. Both agreed that after a series of high-level visits, the two countries have increased mutual understanding and trust. This will contribute to building a Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership. President Yam welcomed the forthcoming visit to Singapore by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. President Truong Tan Sang thanked Singapore for supporting Vietnam’s bid to join the UN Council for Human Rights for the 2014-2016 term and to be a member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. The two leaders committed to further strengthening bilateral co-operation under the framework of APEC and ASEM, particularly when the ASEAN Community is established in 2015. President Yam agreed with Vietnam’s views on East Sea, saying he supports strengthening solidarity within ASEAN to ensure maritime security, safety and freedom in the East Sea in accordance with international laws. These include the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the soon to be developed Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

On this occasion, President Truong Tan Sang and his Singaporean counterpart Tonny Tan Keng Yam witnessed the handover of investment licenses to the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Zone and the Thermoelectric Power Plant run by Sembcorp in the central Quang Ngai province.

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks with the visiting Singaporean President Yam. PM Dung spoke highly of President Yam’s visit, saying it will strengthen the Vietnam-Singapore friendship. He committed to honoring and concretizing the reached agreements and that the two countries should further deepen co-operation to benefit both peoples. President Yam agreed to exchange more senior-level visits, contribute to raising the bilateral relationship to a new level and building a Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership.