S'pore, Vietnam set up defense ties

S'pore, Vietnam set up defense ties

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Vietnam and Singapore established bilateral defense ties yesterday during an official visit to Singapore by Vietnam's defense minister, Gen. Doan Khue.

Khue was the first Vietnamese defense minister to tour the city state.

"The visit by General Khue heralds the establishment of bilateral defense ties between Vietnam and Singapore," the Singapore Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Khue met his Singapore counterpart, Lee Boon Yang, and Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong yesterday during a three- day visit. He also toured a naval base and other military sites. Khue's visit is part of a move by Hanoi to integrate with the region after years of isolation.