Initiatives Needed to Boost Exchanges between Vietnam and Singapore Youth

At the meeting, Singapore Ambassador Jaya Ratnam said: People-to-people exchanges are the foundation for excellent and sustainable political and economic relations between Vietnam and Singapore. To continue exploiting the potential for cooperation, it is necessary to understand the needs and concerns of the young generation of the two countries, thereby coming up with appropriate plans to promote exchanges between Vietnamese and Singaporean young people.

Currently, many organizations and initiatives are operating to strengthen the connection between the young generation of the two countries, such as the Vietnam - Singapore Cooperation Center; and the non-profit organization Singapore - Vietnam Young Leaders Network... Since 2019, Vietnamese has been included in Singapore students' foreign language teaching program. Many schools have organized for students to study Vietnamese and visit Vietnam to learn about culture and life. Cooperation between the two countries' universities is flourishing. The number of young Singaporean businessmen and tourists visiting Vietnam is increasing.

The Singapore Embassy in Vietnam looks to continue promoting the above activities, and at the same time seek new initiatives to further encourage exchanges between the young generation of the two sides.

Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, thanked Ambassador Jaya Ratnam and the Singapore Embassy in Vietnam for coordinating with the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association in activities to consolidate and strengthen relations between the two countries on the people-to-people channel.
The President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations said: In 1992, during the first official visit to Vietnam by the late Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, one of the focuses of discussion between the two countries was how the two sides could cooperate and learn from each other's experiences to serve development. Those contents are still valuable in the current context. Vietnam and Singapore have many similarities. Singapore has been a popular destination for Vietnamese tourists, students, and businessmen for many years. As active members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam and Singapore need to work with each other and with other member countries to maintain peace and stability in the region, for the development of the region.

The Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations agreed to cooperate with the Singapore Embassy in Vietnam to strengthen the relationship between the people of Vietnam and Singapore, notably expanding the space to meet, exchange, and interact among the young generation; and promote academic and training cooperation between the two countries.