Vietnam - Singapore Towards a Future of Peace, Creativity and Shared Prosperity
	Promoting Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

From friendly exchanges to substantive connections

On December 15th in Hanoi, the Central Committee of the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association (VSFA) held a plenary meeting of its Executive Board to summarize activities in 2025 and set directions and tasks for 2026 (Photo: TD).

In his remarks, Vice President and Secretary General of VSFA Nguyen Duc Hung noted that the year 2025 marks a new stage of development for people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Singapore, in the context of the two countries upgrading their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (March 2025) and jointly celebrating important milestones: the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 60th anniversary of Singapore's National Day.

Over the past year, VSFA's activities have shifted significantly from friendly exchanges to substantive connections, focusing on effectiveness and serving the priorities of bilateral relations. Besides strengthening understanding and friendship, VSFA has emphasized promoting new areas such as economic diplomacy, innovation, digital diplomacy, health diplomacy, environment, and culture, with a people- and community-centered approach.

Vice President and Secretary General of VSFA Nguyen Duc Hung spoke at the event (Photo: TD).

According to the report, it has achieved three outstanding results, namely promoting its role as an economic bridge, fostering linkages between the business communities of the two countries, especially Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); the trade and investment promotion forums jointly organized by VSFA are increasingly becoming a reliable address for businesses and investors; linking its activities with priority socio-economic development programs of the country through building and effectively mobilizing a network of partners in Vietnam and Singapore, from diplomatic missions and business support organizations to industry associations and local associations. On the other hand, VSFA proactively implemented humanitarian and socially impactful programs, such as the Social Enterprise Innovation Support Program (SEIP), launched in 2024 and further expanded in 2025. The programs contributed to enhancing the innovation capacity and sustainable development of community enterprises.

A pivotal year for a new phase of development

President of VSFA Vu Viet Ngoan spoke at the event (Photo: TD).

Vietnam-Singapore people-to-people exchange program in 2025 has achieved substantive and in-depth results, contributing to a solid social foundation for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. To better utilize the potential for cooperation, it is necessary to strengthen the links between the Central VSFA and local associations, and to put the signed agreements into concrete implementation.

At the conference, Vice President of VSFA Hai Phong Nguyen Huy Thanh stated that the city has attracted numerous investment projects from Singaporean businesses with an estimated total registered capital of over US$ 10 billion, making Singapore the second largest foreign investor in Hai Phong. These projects focus on processing and manufacturing industries, logistics, industrial park infrastructure, trade and services, and renewable energy, creating tens of thousands of jobs, promoting technology transfer, and improving the quality of the local workforce. Based on this experience, Hai Phong proposed adding content on connecting and supporting vocational training to the VSFA's work program in 2026 and subsequent years, better meeting the high-skilled workforce needs of Singaporean businesses. This includes focusing on linking businesses with vocational education institutions, researching the Vietnam-Singapore vocational training model, and expanding student and lecturer exchange programs.

Vietnam-Singapore people-to-people exchange program in 2025 has achieved substantive and in-depth results, contributing to a solid social foundation for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries (Photo: TD).

President of VSFA Can Tho Tran Thi Xuan suggested that the Central VSFA to clearly demonstrate its role as a focal point and support for local associations, especially in areas facing many difficulties. She believed it should not only play a guiding role but also strengthen connections and provide support in terms of voice, partners, and resources, helping local associations maintain effective operations amidst changes in organizational structure and operating mechanisms.

Many suggestions at the event mentioned the signed cooperation agreements into substantive implementation, with the connection between the Vietnamese and Singaporean business communities and innovation as the overarching theme for activities in 2026. Other suggested strengthening linkages between business associations of the two countries to support small and medium-sized enterprises in enhancing their innovation capacity and participating more deeply in the supply chains of large projects; and linking business networking activities with existing innovation programs, selecting key areas for in-depth implementation, creating concrete and measurable results in 2026.

Regarding the SEIP program, it should expand in both the scope and scale of implementation, spreading it strongly to localities through the VSFA’s organizational system. The prioritized fields should be financial innovation, linking technology with the process of building, testing, and critically reviewing financial policies at both macro and micro levels; and at the same time, adding an innovation pillar in education, developing Vietnam-Singapore educational cooperation models, and applying new technologies and training methods. SEIP programs can gradually be positioned as a long-term innovation cooperation platform, connecting policy, technology, community, and partners in Singapore.

Speaking at the Conference, Deputy Head of the Asia-Africa Department (Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations) Le Trung Hieu highly appreciated VSFA's ability to maintain stable and in-depth operations and create a substantial impact amidst the streamlining of its organizational structure and the reorganization of mass organizations. In particular, the signing of a bilateral cooperation agreement with Singapore, witnessed by the Prime Ministers of both countries, was considered a significant highlight, demonstrating VSFA's prestige and position. The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations will continue to support VSFA, while also emphasizing the importance of early and thorough preparation for the organization and personnel of the 3rd Congress.

In his concluding remarks, President of VSFA Vu Viet Ngoan emphasized that 2026 is a pivotal year, both for implementing new directions in foreign relations and people-to-people diplomacy, and for preparing for the 3rd Congress. Based on the summary of activities in 2025, VSFA will focus on several key tasks to create a foundation for the next phase of development.

He noted the importance of realizing the cooperation agreement signed with the Singapore Small and Medium Enterprises Support Association, emphasizing the need for the Central VSFA to develop specific activities to make the cooperation more substantive and strengthen connections between the business communities of the two countries. It will also consider the possibility of organizing a Vietnam-Singapore Investment and Finance Forum in Singapore in 2026, in which VSFA will act as the focal point, coordinating with relevant agencies and organizations to promote policy exchanges and bilateral financial cooperation.

VSFA President Vu Viet Ngoan proposed forming a model of closer cooperation between the Central VSFA and local associations, building a unified VSFA system, and increasing linkages and effectiveness. The Central VSFA will expand and deepen cooperation with localities such as Hai Phong and Can Tho, support the organization of forums and workshops to connect communities, and expand the network of partners participating in VSFA programs.

Regarding preparations for the 3rd Congress, VSFA's leadership will continue discussions to develop a model of leadership succession, ensuring that it both builds upon achievements and creates a new foundation in terms of thinking, resources, and development momentum, in line with the new context.

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