PM Lee goes on official visit to Vietnam from March 21

SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will visit Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam for four days, starting Tuesday (March 21), to reaffirm Singapore’s long-standing ties with Vietnam, said the Prime Minister’s Office. 

During the official visit, he will meet several Vietnamese leaders to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, which is underpinned by the strategic partnership between both countries. The partnership deepens ties on the political, economic, defence, security and international fronts. 

This partnership was formed during Mr Lee’s last official visit to Vietnam in September 2013, at the invitation of then-Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. 

Kicking off the first leg of his visit in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Lee will receive a call and attend a lunch hosted by Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong.

In addition, he is expected to officiate the opening of the Mapletree Business Centre. He will also attend a luncheon with businessmen based in the city, as well as a reception with the Singaporeans based there.

In Hanoi, Mr Lee will be meeting General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly President Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. 

He will receive calls by Secretary of Da Nang City Party Committee Nguyen Xuan Anh and Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung. 

Mr Lee will also lay wreaths at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Monument for National Heroes and Martyrs before attending a dinner hosted by his Vietnamese counterpart.

Accompanying him on his trip are Mrs Lee, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing, Senior Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Defence) Maliki Osman, Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Baey Yam Keng, Member of Parliament Intan Azura Mokhtar as well as senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean will be the Acting Prime Minister during Mr Lee’s absence.