The agreement came at the first Singapore-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue in Singapore on August 25, co-chaired by Politburo member and Standing Member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Secretariat Tran Cam Tu and Singapore’s People’s Action Party Assistant Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing.

Held under the theme “Towards a Resilient Future: Elevating Singapore- Vietnam Partnership for Technology and Capacity Building to New Heights,” the dialogue focused on areas directly linked to the development needs and competitiveness of both countries.

Tu praised the close coordination and preparations by both sides, saying that holding the inaugural dialogue soon after the mechanism was established demonstrated the two parties’ strong political commitment to putting the new cooperation mechanism into substantive operation and contributing to the implementation of the major directions of the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

He described the choice of human-resource development and technology connectivity as “right and relevant”, as both are strategically important to the competitiveness, resilience and long-term development of the two countries.

Chan agreed with the guest’s views and welcomed the fact that the two parties had moved quickly to put the strategic dialogue mechanism into operation through concrete cooperation plans. He highlighted exchanges on governance, human-resource development, science and technology and innovation, as well as the potential to better connect the complementary strengths of the two countries.

Human resources as a pillar of cooperation

The two sides agreed to make human resource development and official training an important pillar of cooperation between the two parties, aiming to develop officials with strategic thinking, modern governance capabilities and the ability to formulate and implement policies effectively.

Training cooperation is to be developed in a long-term and systematic manner, with links among different programmes, close alignment with practical requirements and greater attention to future officials and leaders at various levels.

Tu called for stronger exchanges on building a modern public administration, effective national governance, policymaking and implementation, and identifying, training and making effective use of talent. He also proposed stronger exchanges among promising young leaders and broader cooperation among mass organisations, youth groups and localities, helping strengthen the social foundation of bilateral ties.

From the Vietnamese side, Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Nguyen Duy Ngoc said Vietnam has identified science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as top strategic breakthroughs, while people remain the decisive factor in achieving success.

Vietnam, he said, hopes Singapore will continue to accompany and share experience in meeting the development needs of both sides.

Politburo member and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Doan Minh Huan noted that investment in governance capacity and public policy capacity is an investment in sustainable development and greater strategic autonomy. Cooperation between the Academy and Singaporean partners in training and human resource development already has a substantive foundation, he said, expressing the hope that the two sides would build a more long-term and systematic framework involving research, theoretical exchanges and knowledge-sharing.

Singaporean officials also highlighted the importance of human-resource development. Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore has learned from many countries, including Vietnam, during its development process and expressed the hope that the two parties would continue to play a leading role in promoting comprehensive links between the two countries, particularly in science and technology and education and training.

Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo shared Singapore’s experience in developing human resources in line with economic requirements, strengthening state sector capacity and preparing workers to adapt to rapid technological change.

From technology transfer to joint development

Technology connectivity formed the second major focus of the dialogue, as Vietnam and Singapore look to create new drivers of growth and strengthen their respective technological capabilities.

Examining issues on science and technology connectivity, Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan highlighted that Vietnam is shifting its growth model toward greater reliance on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, moving from receiving and applying technology toward improving, mastering and co-creating it.

This requires stronger links among the State, businesses, research institutions and universities, he said. The State should concentrate on creating an enabling institutional framework, sharing risks and facilitating the development of new technologies and products, while businesses should play an important role in bringing technology to the market.

Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo shared the country’s experience in building innovation ecosystems, linking research with businesses and markets, and developing technology talent. She agreed on the need to foster links between the innovation ecosystems of the two countries and promote connections among government agencies, research institutions, universities and businesses.

From a broader policy perspective, Politburo member and head of the Central Policy and Strategy Commission Nguyen Thanh Nghi said the Politburo’s Resolution 19 on renewing the development model has set out an overall direction toward a resilient, innovative, humane, sustainable and integrated development model.

The approach places people at the centre and identifies science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and artificial intelligence as key drivers, he said, adding that the concept of building a “common development space” was appropriate for the new phase of Vietnam-Singapore cooperation.

Tu called for effective implementation of the Vietnam-Singapore Joint Statement on the Technology Connectivity Strategy to be adopted at the dialogue, with a focus on identifying solutions and mechanisms to soon agree on and implement a 2026-2030 technology connectivity strategy.

The new cooperation model, he noted, should bring together the State, the scientific community and businesses, with the goal going beyond investment attraction and technology transfer toward joint research, joint development, gradually mastering technology together and creating new products and value.

Turning the new mechanism into practical cooperation

The dialogue also covered strategic thinking, governance capacity, policymaking, digital and green transformation and sustainable development, linking human-resource development closely with the development and mastery of science and technology.

Le Hoai Trung, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, emphasised the importance and practical significance of the strategic dialogue between the two parties, particularly amid complex developments in the region and the world.

As the coordinating agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work closely with relevant Party and State agencies to effectively implement the dialogue’s important conclusions, he said.

The two sides agreed that the new dialogue mechanism should help transform shared views and development experience into practical cooperation, while strengthening their ability to adapt to new challenges and seek new drivers of development.

At the dialogue, the two sides adopted the conclusions of the first Singapore-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue and issued the Vietnam-Singapore Joint Statement on the Technology Connectivity Strategy.

The inaugural dialogue marks a new development in relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and Singapore’s People’s Action Party, providing an additional channel for political exchanges and deeper policy consultations.