Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang in Singapore for three-day state visit

VIETNAMESE President Tran Dai Quang arrives on Sunday in Singapore for a three-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral and business ties.

He is accompanied by his spouse Nguyen Thi Hien and a high-level delegation.

Members include Minister-Chairman of the President's Office Dao Viet Trung, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha, senior officials, and a business delegation.

Noting that this is Mr Quang's first state visit to Singapore after taking office in April, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said: "That President Quang has chosen to visit Singapore early in his presidential term is testament to the strength and importance of our bilateral relations."

On Monday, Mr Quang will be received at a welcome ceremony held at the Istana. He will also call on Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will then meet with Mr Quang and host him to lunch.

After lunch, Mr Quang will deliver a keynote address at the Singapore-Vietnam Business Forum organised by the Singapore Business Federation.

In the evening, Mr Quang will attend a state banquet hosted by Dr Tan.

On Tuesday, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean will host Mr Quang to breakfast.

Mr Quang will then deliver the 38th Singapore Lecture organised by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) - Yusof Ishak Institute, the first by a Vietnam head of state.

He will then receive a call by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and visit One-North before departing for Vietnam.

Singapore and Vietnam enjoy warm bilateral relations ever since establishing diplomatic relations 43 years ago.

The multi-faceted relations received a boost in 2013 during Mr Lee's official visit to Vietnam when relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership.

As of April 2016, Singaporean investment into Vietnam is at US$38 billion into Vietnam across 1,600 projects. This makes Singapore the third largest foreign investor there.

Bilateral trade is at S$21.6 billion in 2015, a 10.6-percent increase from the previous year. This made Singapore sixth largest trading partner for Vietnam, and Vietnam was Singapore's 11th largest trading partner.