Vietnam, S'pore strengthen ties

Vietnam, S'pore strengthen ties

HANOI (Reuter): The prime ministers of Vietnam and Singapore have pledged to strengthen ties and cooperation in several areas, the Vietnam News Agency said yesterday on the first full day of a visit by Singapore's Goh Chok Tong.

"The two leaders compared notes in an open-hearted and frank atmosphere, focusing on measures to further promote ties between the two countries as well as regional and international issues of common concern," VNA said.

Goh and his Vietnamese counterpart, Vo Van Kiet, agreed at their meeting in Ho Chi Minh City to promote conditions to boost bilateral investment, trading and cooperation, the official news agency said.

Goh's visit underlined Singaporean business interest in Vietnam and government ties that were reinforced last year when the communist country joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Singapore was a founder.