Standing Secretary of the Party Central Committee Tran Cam Tu and Deputy Secretary-General of Singapore's People's Action Party, Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing today co-chaired the first Vietnam - Singapore Strategic Dialogue, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The dialogue was themed "Towards a Resilient Shared Future: Elevating Vietnam-Singapore Technology Connectivity and Human Resource Development Cooperation to New Heights".

During the dialogue, both sides issued a joint statement on the Technology Connectivity Strategy. They agreed on a shared vision: to make Vietnam and Singapore leading strategic technology partners in Southeast Asia. This partnership aims for both nations to achieve greater technological resilience through cooperation and connectivity.

First Vietnam - Singapore Strategic Dialogue. *Photo: VNA*

Both sides underscored the importance of boosting knowledge, experience, technical expertise, and best practices exchange among government agencies, the business community, and academia. They also expressed interest in exploring cooperation in areas such as: the data economy, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, biotechnology, quantum technology, and other emerging technologies.

To achieve these goals, the two nations committed to promoting cooperation, co-creation, co-research, and co-development. This effort seeks to build a regional innovation ecosystem where businesses, universities, and research institutes connect, innovate, and develop together.

Vietnam and Singapore will deepen cooperation in developing, deploying, and utilizing AI systems safely and responsibly, referencing regional guidelines such as the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics. Both sides emphasized that high-quality human resource development is fundamental for sustainable technology connectivity.

Standing Secretary of the Party Central Committee Tran Cam Tu speaking at the Vietnam - Singapore Strategic Dialogue. *Photo: VNA*

Recognizing the complementary nature of their innovation ecosystems—Vietnam with its dynamic market, young workforce, and growing manufacturing capabilities, and Singapore with its strengths in research and development, data governance, AI, and international connectivity—both sides aim to leverage these strengths. This will be achieved by facilitating trusted data exchange between organizations to accelerate the testing, application, and commercialization of research outcomes.

Both sides will promote data-driven innovation and encourage responsible cross-border data usage and flow through the implementation of ASEAN Model Contractual Clauses (MCCs) within the ASEAN Framework on Digital Data Governance. They will also facilitate dialogue between Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority, Singapore's Personal Data Protection Commission, Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, and Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology to exchange views on policies and best practices related to cross-border data flows.

Full text of the Vietnam - Singapore Joint Statement on Technology Connectivity Strategy

Standing Secretary of the Party Central Committee Tran Cam Tu met with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on 25/8. *Photo: VNA*

On the afternoon of 25/8, Standing Secretary of the Party Central Committee Tran Cam Tu met with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam affirmed Singapore's appreciation for its relationship with Vietnam and expressed a desire to work with Vietnam to effectively leverage opportunities presented by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.

Both sides affirmed their commitment to close coordination within ASEAN and at multilateral forums. They will work with member states to strengthen ASEAN's solidarity, unity, resilience, and centrality, promoting multilateralism, regional cooperation, and integration, thereby contributing to building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous ASEAN.

Huyen Le