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Background Brief Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Partnership Carlyle A. Thayer September 11, 2013

[client name deleted] Singapores Prime Minister is in Vietnam for a state visit, during which the two sides are scheduled to sign a Strategic Partnership agreement to raise relations to a new level, including cooperation in defense and security. What is your assessment of this strategic partnership agreement? Does it help Vietnam, and ASEAN, relieve tensions in the South China Sea? ANSWER: Strategic Partnerships agreements are primarily bilateral. They signify that relations between the two parties are comprehensive and have depth in key areas, such as trade and security. China, Vietnam and the United States all promote strategic partnerships of one kind or another. In one sense a strategic partnership agreement is aimed at off-setting anothers powers relations with the target country. China has a strategic partnership with Indonesia, Vietnam, not to be outdone, has negotiated a similar strategic partner relationship. Strategic partnerships per se will not aid ASEAN on the South China Sea issue nor reduce tensions. After all, ASEAN and China will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of their strategic partnership later this year. Strategic partnerships, however, could assist Vietnam on the South China Sea because they usually contain a high-level mechanism for dialogue on strategic issues. Thus Vietnam and Singapore could discuss common approaches in various multilateral institutions to which they both belong. Strategic partnerships give structure to bilateral relations and this assists foreign policy coordination. Strategic partnerships should not be overrated. After all Vietnam and the United States could not reach formal agreement on a strategic partnership, yet their agreement on a comprehensive partnership contains a new ministerial level bilateral mechanism and a clause on defence cooperation.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Partnership, Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, September 11, 2013. All background briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself from the mailing list type UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject heading and hit the Reply key.

2 Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.

Tuyn b chung lp i tc chin lc VN-Singapore

11/09/2013 | 19:18:00 Nhn li mi ca Th tng Chnh ph nc Cng ha X hi ch ngha Vit Nam Nguyn Tn Dng, Th tng nc Cng ha Singapore L Hin Long v Phu nhn thm chnh thc Vit Nam t ngy 11 n ngy 13 thng 9 nm 2013. Chuyn thm l s kin quan trng k nim 40 nm thit lp quan h ngoi giao Vit NamSingapore. Trong chuyn thm, Th tng L Hin Long cho x giao Tng B th Nguyn Ph Trng v Ch tch nc Trng Tn Sang; hi kin Ch tch Quc hi Nguyn Sinh Hng; hi m chnh thc, d tic chiu i ca Th tng Nguyn Tn Dng v cng Th tng Nguyn Tn Dng chng kin l khi cng xy dng Khu Cng nghip Vit Nam-Singapore th 5 ti tnh Qung Ngi. Trong cc cuc trao i, hai bn khng nh quan h hu ngh bn cht, hp tc ton din v tin cy ln nhau gia Vit Nam v Singapore v nht tr tip tc trin khai cc tha thun song phng k kt, trong c Tuyn b chung v Khun kh Hp tc Ton din trong th k 21 (2004), Hip nh khung v Kt ni (2005) nhm thc y hn na hp tc song phng. Hai bn cng chia s quan im rng vic cng c hn na mi quan h lu di, n nh v ton din gia Vit Nam v Singapore khng ch phc v li ch ca hai nc m cn gp phn thc y ha bnh, n nh, thnh vng v hp tc trong khu vc cng nh xy dng Cng ng ASEAN vo nm 2015. Vi nhn thc v trn tinh thn Tuyn b bo ch chung trong chuyn thm chnh thc Cng ha Singapore ca Tng B th ng Cng sn Vit Nam Nguyn Ph Trng (9/2012) v vic nng quan h hai nc ln i tc chin lc, hai bn nht tr thit lp quan h i tc Chin lc trn c s tn trng, tin cy ln nhau, v li ch ca c hai bn. Quan h i tc Chin lc Vit Nam-Singapore s tun th Hin chng Lin hp quc (UN), Hin chng ca Hip hi cc quc gia ng Nam (ASEAN), Hip c Thn thin v Hp tc ng Nam (TAC), v cc nguyn tc c tha nhn rng ri ca lut quc t. xy dng quan h i tc Chin lc, hai bn t c nhn thc chung v tng cng hp tc gia hai nc trong cc lnh vc sau: V lm su sc thm quan h chnh tr tin cy ln nhau: 1. Thc y trao i on cp cao thng xuyn nhm to ng lc cho hp tc chin lc gia hai nc; thit lp ng dy nng trc tip gia Lnh o hai nc; hoan nghnh v to iu kin cho hp tc Quc hi; v tng cng trao i on gia cc c quan Chnh ph nhm mc ch tng cng quan h chnh tr v lm su sc hn s hiu bit ln nhau cng nh hp tc song phng.

3 2. To iu kin i thoi v tng cng phi hp gia hai nc trong cc vn song phng, khu vc v a phng cng quan tm thng qua c ch tham vn hng nm gia hai B Ngoi giao. V tng cng hp tc kinh t: 3. M rng hp tc kinh t, thng mi v u t bng cch to mi trng u t thun li v cng c cc mi quan h v i tc kinh doanh; tip tc pht huy vic thc hin Hip nh khung v Kt ni nhm lm su sc hn hp tc kinh t song phng trn mi lnh vc; khuyn khch v h tr cc hot ng chia s, trao i thng tin v kt ni gia cng ng doanh nghip hai nc. 4. Tip tc h tr cc d n lin doanh nh Khu Cng nghip Vit Nam Singapore (VSIP), hnh mu ca quan h hp tc cng c li gia Vit Nam v Singapore trn c s i tc cng-t; trn c s hnh mu ny, tip tc tng cng hp tc trong cc lnh vc quan trng khc nh giao thng, cng ngh thng tin v truyn thng, ti chnh, ngn hng, cng nghip, qun l v pht trin th, cc d n u t, dch v hu cn, gio dc v o to, thng mi v dch v, v cc ngnh cng nghip sng to; xem xt tng cng hp tc trong cc lnh vc c tim nng khc nh du lch tu bin, trao i hng ha, y t, nng nghip v nui trng thy sn. 5. Tip tc khuyn khch dng u t v thng mi song phng. Singapore hoan nghnh nh ca Vit Nam tng cng xut khu sang th trng Singapore, trong c hng nng sn, hi sn v thc phm. Singapore s cng vi Vit Nam xem xt cch thc ph hp chuyn giao chuyn mn k thut trong cc lnh vc nh thit lp khun kh mi trng cho cng tc no vt phc v vic xy dng cng bin hoc pht trin giao thng ng thy, o to v an ton thc phm trong phng th nghim, cc chng trnh trao i v chn on bnh dch ng vt v cc chng trnh o to v qun l v pht trin th. 6. Hai bn khng nh mong mun tng cng hp tc ti chnh song phng, bao gm chia s kinh nghim trong cc vn hi quan (hi quan mt ca, quy trnh hi quan in t) v thu (hnh chnh thu v chnh sch thu), tip tc h tr lin kt kinh t gia hai nc; khuyn khch mi bn thm nhp nhiu hn vo lnh vc ti chnh ca nc kia nhm thc y trao i xuyn bin gii v chuyn mn v u t; tch cc thc hin Bn Ghi nh v Hp tc Ti chnh (2012); hai bn chia s tm quan trng ca vic hp tc nhm thc y n nh ti chnh khu vc thng qua cc din n, trong c ASEAN, ASEAN+3 7. Hai bn hoan nghnh tin b t c trong khun kh L trnh ASEAN v Hi nhp Hng khng v Tha thun a phng ASEAN v T do ha Hon ton Dch v Vn ti Hnh khch Hng khng. V li ch ca vic tng cng lin kt hng khng, hai bn nht tr pht huy nhng tha thun trn v tng cng hp tc trong lnh vc ny, k c t do ha dch v hng khng trn c s tha thun song phng, nhm h tr m rng hp tc kinh t, thng mi, u t, du lch v giao lu nhn dn. 8. Tng cng hp tc du lch gia hai nc v vi cc nc khc trong khu vc; thc y hn na hp tc trong hot ng xc tin du lch v trao i thng tin du lch thng qua c ch Hp tc Du lch Vit Nam-Singapore (SVTC).

V nng cao hp tc an ninh quc phng: 9. Tip tc pht huy Tha thun Hp tc Quc phng (2009) v tng cng hn na quan h quc phng, hiu bit v tin cy ln nhau bng vic thc y hp tc trong cc lnh vc nh trao i qun s v o to c hai nc, hp tc a phng trong khun kh Hi ngh B trng Quc phng ASEAN (ADMM) v ASEAN m rng (ADMM+), cng nh thng qua trao i quan im v cc vn an ninh cng quan tm. 10. Tng cng hp tc an ninh, bao gm nng cao nng lc v trao i thng tin tnh bo; thc y trao i thng xuyn cc chuyn thm cp Th trng gia B Cng An Vit Nam v B Ni v Singapore; kim im hp tc v nh hng cho cc hot ng khc theo Tha thun Hp tc v Phng chng Ti phm xuyn Quc gia (k nm 2006 v gia hn nm 2012), hoc trong khun kh K hoch Hnh ng ASEAN v Phng Chng Ti phm xuyn Quc gia hoc Tha thun Hp tc Khu vc v chng Cp bin v Cp Tu thuyn c V trang Chu (ReCAAP); tng cng trao i thng tin v phi hp hot ng trong phng chng ti phm v cp bin. 11. Ln n ch ngha khng b di mi hnh thc v tng cng hp tc chng khng b quc t. V thc y hp tc trong cc lnh vc khc: 12. By t hi lng v nh gi cao vai tr ca Chng trnh Hp tc Singapore, Trung tm o to Vit Nam-Singapore v Trung tm o to Cht lng cao Vit Nam Singapore; tng cng hp tc pht trin ngun nhn lc trong khun kh Chng trnh Hp tc Singapore, Trung tm o to Vit Nam-Singapore, Trung tm o to Cht lng cao Vit Nam-Singapore v Sng kin Lin kt ASEAN (IAI) trong cc lnh vc c hai bn nht tr, c kh nng h tr qu trnh pht trin ca Vit Nam v thc y lin kt ASEAN. 13. Tip tc pht huy Bn Ghi nh v Hp tc Gio dc (2007), thc y hot ng ca Nhm Cng tc chung v Gio dc nhm lm su sc hn cc mi lin kt v chuyn mn, to thun li cho giao lu-thm ving v khuyn khch hp tc gia cc vin. 14. Hp tc nhm thc y kin ton b my hnh chnh nh nc, tip tc hp tc trong lnh vc php l v t php nhm c s hiu bit tt hn v h thng quy nh, php lut v th ch ca mi nc. Nhm mc ch , hai bn s trao i on v thc y trao i thng tin gia cc c quan php l v t php, trng i hc, vin nghin cu v cc trung tm gii quyt xung t theo tinh thn Bn Ghi nh Vit Nam-Singapore v Hp tc Php l v T php (2008). Hai bn cam kt duy tr vic tip cn ca mi bn i vi cc dch v php l ca bn kia, ng thi n lc xem xt cc bin php tng cng hp tc v tng tr t php v dn s. 15. Nht tr tng cng hp tc trong lnh vc y t cng cng, bao gm trao i thng tin, nghin cu, gio dc y t v o to thc tp sinh ti cc c s o to ca mi nc thng qua cc tha thun hai bn cng c li. 16. N lc thc y hp tc vn ha, ngh thut, th thao v khuyn khch giao lu

5 thanh nin nhm tng cng giao lu nhn dn v s hiu bit gia hai x hi. V tng cng hp tc ti cc din n quc t v khu vc: 17. N lc tng cng quan h i tc song phng v hp tc vi cc quc gia khc nhm gp phn thc y ha bnh, n nh, thnh vng v hp tc trong khu vc, ng ph vi cc thch thc mi ca khu vc v quc t. 18. Khng nh tn trng cc nguyn tc ca Hin chng Lin hp quc v lut php quc t, bao gm cc nguyn tc v c lp, ch quyn, ton vn lnh th v khng can thip vo ni b ca cc nc. 19. Ghi nhn vai tr ti quan trng ca Lin hp quc trong vic duy tr ha bnh, n nh v pht trin trn th gii; hp tc nhm tng cng vai tr ca Lin hp quc trong vic thc y an ninh quc t, cng nh cc n lc ci t h thng Lin hp quc. 20. Tha nhn tm quan trng ca thng mi t do v th trng m trong vic m bo tip tc tng trng v pht trin kinh t ton cu; tip tc hp tc thc y thng mi t do v hi nhp khu vc su rng hn thng qua cc din n khu vc nh Din n Hp tc Kinh t Chu Thi Bnh Dng (APEC), cng c h thng thng mi a bin nhm m bo T chc Thng mi Th gii (WTO) tip tc duy tr tnh ph hp ca mnh trong bi cnh hin ti v trong tng lai; ng h hon tt m phn Hip nh i tc Xuyn Thi Bnh Dng (TPP), m bo li ch ca tt c cc thnh vin c trnh pht trin khc nhau. 21. Tip tc hp tc trong cc sng kin nhm cng c vai tr trung tm ca ASEAN trong cu trc khu vc ang nh hnh; nhn thc rng vic duy tr ha bnh v n nh trong khu vc ph thuc nhiu vo vic duy tr vai tr trung tm ca ASEAN, c pht huy da trn tnh t ch, tin cy v on kt ASEAN cng nh vic cng c quan h ca ASEAN vi cc i tc i thoi ch cht; thc y hp tc ASEAN trong cc din n khu vc v quc t nh APEC, Hi ngh u (ASEM) v Lin hp quc. 22. Hp tc nhm hng ti mt Cng ng ASEAN hi nhp, thc hin cc mc tiu ca ASEAN ti nm 2015 v xa hn na nhm m bo tng trng v thnh vng di hn cho khu vc; cam kt thc hin cc sng kin nh K hoch Tng th v Kt ni ASEAN nhm mc ch tng cng kt ni gia cc quc gia thnh vin v Quan h i tc Kinh t Ton din ti Khu vc nhm gp phn tng cng lin kt kinh t gia ASEAN v cc i tc thng mi t do ca Hip hi. 23. Hp tc cht ch hn nhm thu hp khong cch pht trin trong ASEAN theo sng kin IAI cng nh cc d n hp tc khu vc v tiu vng khc m c hai nc tham gia hoc c li ch chung. 24. Hp tc vi cc nc ASEAN nhm duy tr ha bnh, n nh, t do, an ton v an ninh hng hi khu vc, bao gm c khu vc Bin ng; gii quyt cc tranh chp bng cc bin php ha bnh ph hp vi lut php quc t, trong c Cng c ca Lin hp quc v Lut bin 1982 (UNCLOS); kim ch khng dng v lc hoc e da dng v lc; thc hin y Tuyn b v ng x ca cc bn Bin ng (DOC) v Tuyn b Hi ngh Cp cao ASEAN-Trung Quc nhn k nim 10

6 nm k DOC; v sm hon tt B Quy tc ng x Bin ng (COC). 25. Hp tc cht ch nhm thc y i thoi v hp tc khu vc v hng hi, k c trong khun kh Din n Hng hi ASEAN, Din n Hng hi ASEAN M rng v cc c ch khc ca ASEAN. 26. N lc nng cao vai tr ca ASEAN trong cng ng quc t thng qua vic t c cc mc tiu ra trong Tuyn b Bali v Cng ng ASEAN trong Cng ng cc Quc gia Ton cu (Tuyn b Bali III) c cc nh Lnh o ASEAN thng qua thng 11 nm 2011. 27. Hai bn nht tr giao B Ngoi giao hai nc lm u mi, phi hp vi cc B, ngnh lin quan, nghin cu hnh thc v bin php trin khai hiu qu v c th ni hm ca quan h i tc Chin lc v thng qua cc c ch hp tc song phng hin c nh k nh gi vic trin khai./. (TTXVN)