This marks General Secretary To Lam’s first visit to Indonesia, the ASEAN Secretariat, and Singapore, making it particularly significant as it coincides with many important events for Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and ASEAN.

Illustrative image.

The year 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of Vietnam-Indonesia diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN. Additionally, Vietnam and Singapore recently celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations.

Vietnam and Indonesia share a longstanding traditional friendship. Over the past 70 years, since establishing diplomatic relations in 1955 and upgrading to a Strategic Partnership in 2013, bilateral relations have continuously strengthened and reached new heights. The two countries regularly conduct high-level visits and exchanges.

The Communist Party of Vietnam maintains official relations with Indonesia’s Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Indonesian political parties consistently recognise the role and position of the Communist Party of Vietnam and seek to enhance cooperation.

Defence and security cooperation between the two nations has been increasingly strengthened through dialogue mechanisms, exchanges, and joint training.

Within ASEAN, Indonesia is Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner, while Vietnam is Indonesia’s fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade robustly growing.

The two countries frequently organise cultural exchange activities and foster cooperation in education and tourism, while localities actively collaborate.

Vietnam and Indonesia share strategic interests and perspectives on regional and international issues, particularly within the frameworks of the United Nations, ASEAN, and the East Sea/South China Sea issues.

In 2022, the two countries signed the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) delimitation agreement, ensuring fair benefits for both sides following international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

This historic milestone significantly contributes to the region’s peace, stability, and cooperation.

The year 2025 is crucial for ASEAN and Vietnam, marking a new phase in ASEAN Community-building, where intra-bloc solidarity and resilience are key to ASEAN’s central role.

ASEAN continues to grow, innovate, and establish itself as a successful regional organisation globally, contributing to dialogue and cooperation for peace, stability, and prosperity in Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia.

At the same time, ASEAN actively and responsibly engages with the international community to address shared challenges.

Vietnam will commemorate 30 years of ASEAN membership in 2025, offering an opportunity to review cooperation outcomes and discuss future directions. As an active and responsible ASEAN member, Vietnam plays a crucial role in ASEAN cooperation, working closely with ASEAN chairing countries to sustain cooperation momentum and maintain ASEAN’s centrality and status.

Vietnam and Singapore established diplomatic relations in 1973 and upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2013. Bilateral relations are currently at a particularly strong stage, characterised by growing political trust, robust economic and investment cooperation, and close people-to-people ties, providing momentum for further elevating relations.

The two countries regularly exchange high-level delegations and effectively implement cooperation mechanisms. The Communist Party of Vietnam maintains a strong relationship with Singapore’s ruling PAP, with leaders of both parties frequently exchanging views on national development and governance experiences.

Singapore is one of Vietnam’s most important economic partners, with strong and substantive cooperation in trade, investment, and connectivity.

Currently, Singapore is the largest investor in Vietnam. A hallmark of their economic partnership is the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP), symbolising successful bilateral economic collaboration.

Vietnam currently has 153 investment projects in Singapore, while bilateral trade is growing dynamically and becoming more balanced.

Notably, the Vietnam-Singapore Green Economy-Digital Economy Partnership continues to open new prospects, promising strong future growth.

The two sides are promoting cooperation in key and high-potential sectors such as digital transformation, clean energy, carbon credit exchange, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.

Vietnam and Singapore largely share positions on regional and international issues, coordinating closely in multilateral forums, including the United Nations and ASEAN.

At a time of special significance for Vietnam’s relations with Indonesia, Singapore, and ASEAN cooperation, General Secretary To Lam’s visit underscores Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development.

It also highlights Vietnam’s commitment to diversification and multilateralisation in its external relations, deepening diplomatic ties while implementing the foreign policy outlined in the 13th Party Congress, which prioritises strengthening relations with neighbouring countries and ASEAN.

The visit fosters an open and proactive approach to diplomacy, enhancing channels of Party, state, and people-to-people diplomacy.

The visit reaffirms Vietnam’s consistent policy of valuing ASEAN cooperation and strengthening relations with regional partners, aiming to elevate Vietnam’s Strategic Partnerships with Indonesia and Singapore to new heights.

The activities and outcomes of General Secretary To Lam’s visit will generate new momentum for Vietnam’s relations with ASEAN and its close ASEAN partners, enhancing political trust and promoting cooperation in key areas, especially in economics, trade, and investment.

Wishing General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation a successful state visit to Indonesia, an official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat, and an official visit to Singapore, ushering in a new era of cooperation and elevating Vietnam’s relations with ASEAN and its Strategic Partners—Indonesia and Singapore—to new heights, contributing to regional and global development and cooperation.