Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s upcoming Singapore visit holds great significance, since this is an occasion for him and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong enhance relations between the two Governments and States, thereby contributing to cooperation within the ASEAN and ASEAN Plus. Prof. Bilveer Singh from the Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore talked to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of PM Chinh’s official visit to the city state from Wednesday to Friday.

He said both countries are moving in the right roadmap and should work harder to become the cohesion of ASEAN, noting that they are the most stable nations in Southeast Asia at present, so they are in advantageous positions to push the bloc forward.

Singh also said the two sides have maintained an annual defense policy dialogue, but they should further strengthen links between their naval, land, air, and civil defense forces. They also need step up officer exchanges to help boost mutual understanding and military ties.

The professor expected that both will together lead ASEAN on the path to sustainable development. As long as they can promote and maintain the bloc’s unity and cooperation with major powers, it will be crucial to safeguarding security in the Indo-Pacific region or the Asia-Pacific region.

Source: VOV5