Singapore’s 53rd National Day observed in HCM City
A get-together to mark the 53rd anniversary of Singapore’s National Day (August 9) was jointly held by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city’s Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association (VSFA) on August 8.
Singaporean Consul General Leow Siu Lin speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – A get-together to mark the 53rd anniversary of Singapore’s National Day (August 9) was jointly held by the HoChi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city’s Vietnam-SingaporeFriendship Association (VSFA) on August 8.
Congratulating Singapore on the day, Chairman of HCM City’s VSFA Nguyen NgocHoa expressed his delight over the fruitful Vietnam-Singapore cooperativerelations in various fields, which have been consolidated through regular visitsof both sides’ high-level leaders, and meetings on the sidelines ofmultilateral forums.
Two-way trade rose nearly 9 percent year on year to 21.6 billion USD in 2017.Singapore is the third largest investor in Vietnam with over 1,800 projectsregistered at 43 billion USD. Meanwhile, seven Vietnam-Singapore IndustrialParks nationwide have attracted some 10.9 billion USD, and created over 170,000jobs for local labourers.
On the occasion, Hoa called for further support from the Singaporean GeneralConsulate, the Singaporean business association, and the Singaporean community inthe city to enhance people-to-people exchange as well as collaboration inculture, sports, and tourism.
Singaporean Consul General Leow Siu Lin expressed her respect for thecooperation from the HUFO and the VSFA in Ho Chi Minh City, which she saidcontributed significantly to fortifying the close relations between Singaporeanpeople and Ho Chi Minh City’s locals.
Regarding the bilateral ties in the past years, she stressed that bothcountries have gained positive results in cooperation across the fields ofeconomy, trade, investment, tourism, and education and training.
Since 1992, over 18,000 Vietnamese officials, including many from Ho Chi MinhCity, have joined training courses in Singapore under the Singapore CooperationProgramme (SCP). Such cooperative activities have helped nurture the soundrelations and friendship between the two peoples, she said.-VNA
Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan shared their positive evaluations of the growth of the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership during their talks in Singapore on July 31.
Vietnam is among the top three investment destinations in Southeast Asia for Singapore-based companies in the next two years, according to the latest HSBC study.
A Vietnamese Cultural Day was held in Singapore on July 31 night in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic ties (August 1) and five years of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries (September 1).
The Vietnam Tuong (classical drama) Theatre has staged a “tuong” play entitled “The legend of Redhill”, featuring Tuong artists of Vietnam and drama and dancing artists from Singapore.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Singaporean Consul General Leow Siu Lin speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA) 
