Vietnamese People in Singapore - Bridge of Friendship between Two Countries

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived in Changi Airport on February 8 afternoon, starting a three-day official visit to Singapore.
February 10, 2023 | 10:46

According to VNA, welcoming the Vietnamese delegation at the airport included Singaporean Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung, officials from the Vietnamese Embassy and a number of overseas Vietnamese in the country.

The visit is taking place at a time when the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership is developing strongly and dynamically across all fields. This year, the two countries are celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations and 10 years of their strategic partnership.

Prime Minister: Vietnamese People in Singapore - Bridge of Friendship between Two Countries
PM Pham Minh Chinh meets with representatives of the Vietnamese community. Photo: VNA

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse met with the Vietnamese Embassy's staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Singapore on February 8 evening (local time) right after arriving in the island state for a three-day official visit.

At present, the Vietnamese community in Singapore now has over 15,000 people, including around 9,000 students, 2,000 intellectuals, and 2,000 workers.

PM Chinh informed them that after 36 years of Doi moi (renewal), Vietnam's economic size has surged to over USD 400 billion from USD 4 billion. The income per capita has reached roughly USD 4,000 per year.

The Vietnamese Party and State always consider the Vietnamese community abroad, including those in Singapore, an inseparable part of the great national unity bloc and one of the driving forces and sources of strength for national development, he said.

The PM wished that the Vietnamese community in Singapore would continue abiding by law in the host country and serve as a friendship bridge between the two nations, contributing to their national development.

Prime Minister: Vietnamese People in Singapore - Bridge of Friendship between Two Countries
PM Pham Minh Chinh meets with representatives of the Vietnamese community. Photo: VNA

Representatives of the community suggested the Vietnamese Government, ministries, and agencies continue popularising more images of the country to the world, particularly by holding Vietnamese language courses to preserve the Vietnamese culture.

They also proposed enhancing bilateral cooperation with Singapore, including in green and digital economy, as well as creating more favorable conditions for Vietnamese experts and scientists to join in innovation in the homeland.

The Vietnamese leader vowed to direct ministries and agencies to consider their suggestions.

The Vietnamese Party and State have no higher goal than firmly maintaining national independence and freedom; building a stronger and more prosperous country, and making the people more wealthy and happier, including the Vietnamese communities abroad, PM Chinh affirmed.

Prime Minister: Vietnamese People in Singapore - Bridge of Friendship between Two Countries
The Vietnamese community in Singapore now has over 15,000 people, including around 9,000 students, 2,000 intellectuals and 2,000 workers. Photo: VNA

On February 9, PM Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse offered flowers in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Statue in the Asian Civilizations Museum (ACM) as part of their ongoing official visit to Singapore.

The museum, located on the bank of the Singapore River, is the only museum in Asia devoted to exploring the rich artistic heritage of Asia. It focuses on the many historical connections between cultures and civilizations in Asia, and between Asia and the world.

The Statue of President Ho Chi Minh is placed along with the statues of many other Asian leaders and celebrities at the museum.

Prime Minister: Vietnamese People in Singapore - Bridge of Friendship between Two Countries
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse on February 9 offer flowers in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Statue in the Asian Civilizations Museum (ACM) in Singapore. Photo: VNA

On the same day morning, the Vietnamese leader and his wife visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens which serves research and preservation of more than 30,000 species of plants.

PM Chinh attended a ceremony to name a new orchid species "Pham Le Tran Chinh", the hybrid orchid symbolizes strong vitality.

Representatives of the garden said that these new orchid species were hybridized from a species of orchid in Vietnam and a species in Singapore. This orchid is vigorous and free-flowering, producing sturdy and upright inflorescences 25-30 cm long, bearing 5-7 flowers.

After signing the scrapbook and attaching a nameplate to the new orchid, the Prime Minister was awarded a certificate by Singapore, with an annotation about this flower.

Prime Minister: Vietnamese People in Singapore - Bridge of Friendship between Two Countries
The Vietnamese leader and his wife visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Source: quochoi.vn

The PM said he hoped the two countries' relations would develop strongly and last as long as the beauty of this new orchid species.

The 74-ha garden is famous in the world with the National Orchid Garden - the world’s largest display of tropical orchids, where over 1,000 orchid species and 2,000 hybrids are showcased.

Singapore’s tradition of “orchid diplomacy” dates back to 1956, to promote goodwill relations with other countries. A naming ceremony for new orchid species is often held when leaders of countries make official visits to Singapore. At Singapore National Orchid Garden, there are hundreds of species of orchids named after world leaders and famous people.

Prime Minister: Vietnamese People in Singapore - Bridge of Friendship between Two Countries
The new orchid species is named “Papilionanda Pham Le Tran Chinh”, after the Prime Minister and his wife. Source: quochoi.vn
Prime Minister: Vietnamese People in Singapore - Bridge of Friendship between Two Countries
The leader of the Singapore National Orchid Garden said the new orchid species was bred from an orchid species naturally distributed in Vietnam and a species in Singapore. Source: quochoi.vn

As scheduled, during his stay, PM Chinh will hold talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, and have meetings with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob, and Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin.

He will also meet with leading businesses of Singapore, and attend a Vietnam-Singapore Business Forum to promote bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

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