Vietnam's President To Lam to visit Singapore, speak at Shangri-La Dialogue

Vietnamese President To Lam is set to undertake a state visit to Singapore from May 29 to May 31, accepting an invitation from Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. This visit marks To Lam's first state visit to Singapore since assuming his current roles as General Secretary of the Communist Party and President.

A significant highlight of the trip will be To Lam's participation in and keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 29. This address is historic, as it will be the first time a Vietnamese leader of his stature delivers the opening keynote at this prominent Asian security forum. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), which organizes the dialogue, noted that To Lam takes office amid major global shifts affecting the Asia-Pacific region and is committed to sharing Vietnam's perspective.

The visit takes place against a backdrop of robust bilateral relations. Singapore stands as Vietnam's largest investor within ASEAN, with the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) serving as a testament to their successful practical cooperation. Furthermore, Singapore was the first nation with which Vietnam established a digital and green economy partnership, signaling a crucial step towards joint economic transformation in areas like digital and circular economies, innovation, and clean energy.

Bilateral cooperation extends to human resource development and education, with defense and security, transportation, and tourism also maintaining strong ties. The Shangri-La Dialogue, a leading defense and security forum in Asia and globally, typically features an opening keynote by a head of state or government whose influence on regional peace and security is growing. This year's dialogue is expected to draw over 550 delegates from more than 40 countries.

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We are honored that he has chosen the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue to share his views.