So said by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during talks with Singaporean President S.R. Nathan who is on-going visit to Vietnam.

PM Dung highly valued President Nathan’s visit, considering it a landmark to lift the relations between the two countries to new heights. He praised Singaporean achievements in recent years, which have helped the island country become a centre for economics, scientific technology, education and health care in the region.

Mr Dung said that Vietnam now being a member of the World Trade Organisation has established bilateral relations with most countries and territories in the world. However, due to consequences of the past wars Vietnam is still a poor developing country. By the end of 2007, GDP per capita was just US$830/ person.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, PM Dung wanted Singapore to strengthen co-operation and share development experiences with Vietnam for mutual benefit as well as for peace and stability in the region and the world. He emphasised that the Vietnamese Government’s consistent policy is to promote friendly and co-operative relations with Singapore in all fields, both bilaterally and multilaterally. PM Dung affirmed that the Government will further improve conditions for Singapore investors to do business in Vietnam and urged Singapore to help Vietnam in fields which are its strengths, such as infrastructural development, education, training and maritime logistics.

President Nathan praised the Vietnamese Government’s effort in attracting foreign investment and promoting economic development in regional and international integration. He said he was deeply impressed by the great changes in Vietnam compared to his first visit seven years ago, demonstrating that the Vietnamese economy is developing rapidly.

President Nathan highlighted his country’s experiences in human resource development and maritime logistics and committed to share experiences with Vietnam in these fields. Currently, large numbers of Singaporeans are doing business in Vietnam.

The two leaders exchanged experiences in macro-economic management, especially in the implementation of the Agreement for Vietnam-Singapore Connectivity. They also discussed issues under the framework of ASEAN and multilateral forums and affirmed that the two countries will further boost co-operation with other ASEAN member countries to implement the ASEAN Charter and rapidly build a dynamic ASEAN community by 2015.

Later in the evening, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh received President Nathan who reaffirmed Singapore’s policy of strengthening multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, especially in investment, trade, urban infrastructure construction, seaport upgrading and human resource development.

Meanwhile, Mr Manh said that Vietnam attaches importance to developing the relations with regional and neighbouring countries, including Singapore. He expressed his hope that Vietnam and Singapore will promote cooperation in various areas in the interests of the two nations and for peace, stability and development in the region and the rest of the world.