(VOVworld) – Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday as part of his working-visit to Singapore.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on November 7. (photo:thanhnien.com.vn)

Mr. Ninh said Vietnam has accelerated reform, especially in the financial, credit, and banking sectors to improve the operation of state-owned enterprises, strengthen the economy, and meet the demands of the integration process. He asked Singapore to cooperate and share its lessons with Vietnam in this process. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong affirmed that Singapore always gives high priority to cooperation with Vietnam as a strategic partner. He expressed his hope that Vietnam would create conditions for Singaporean financial organizations to expand their business in Vietnam. He agreed to encourage Singaporean businesses to invest in Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island and asked Vietnam to provide them with sufficient information on policies, procedures, and Phu Quoc’s zoning plan. Prime Minister Lee said Singapore would continue to cooperate and support Vietnam in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations to ensure that TPP is a fair agreement which equally benefits its members, especially the developing countries.