Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong near a statue of President Ho Chi Minh

(VOVworld) – Visiting Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on Wednesday held talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Trong said Vietnam respects and wishes to speed up comprehensive cooperation with ASEAN member countries, including Singapore. Both leaders agreed on an intention of upgrading bilateral ties to strategic partnership by 2013 when the two countries will celebrate their 40^th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. They agreed to conduct more regular exchange of visits to share experiences in socio-economic development and boost mutual understanding. Party leader Trong and Prime Minister Lee stressed the need to make full use of the frame work agreement that kinks the two economies and initiate more symbolic projects such as the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park. Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said Vietnam will create the best conditions for Singaporean investors and is ready to expand fields of investment to land and urban management, oil and gas services, supporting industries and maritime transport. The two leaders agreed to boost cooperation in education and training, science and technology, tourism and national defense. Both agreed that Vietnam, Singapore and other ASEAN members should strengthen solidarity and cooperation to maintain the bloc’s central role in the formulating regional structure and successfully develop the ASEAN Community by 2015. The expressed their concern over recent complexities in the East Sea and said they hoped involving parties would settle disputes through peaceful means in line with international laws, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Code of Conduct on the East Sea. They agreed to increase cooperation in regional and international forums. After the talks, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong witnessed the signing of three cooperative agreements: a memorandum of understanding on financial cooperation, a revised protocol on double taxation avoidance and an agreement on research and training for senior officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam. They also released a joint statement. The same day, Party leader Trong laid a wreath at President Ho Chi Minh Monument in front of the Asia Civilization Museum by the Singapore river and visited some cultural and historical relics. In the evening, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong held a banquet in honor of Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and the Vietnamese delegation.