PM Lee to make official visit to Vietnam this week

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong will make an official visit to Vietnam from Tuesday to Friday at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday evening that this visit will reaffirm Singapore's long-standing ties with Vietnam, a fellow Asean member state.

Mr Lee will first travel to Ho Chi Minh City where he will receive a call and be hosted to lunch by Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong.

Mr Lee will also have lunch with a group of businessmen based in the city, and attend a reception with Singaporeans. He is also scheduled to grace the opening of the new Mapletree Business Centre building.

In the capital Hanoi, Mr Lee will meet Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Phuc and National Assembly President Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Mr Phuc will also host dinner for the Singapore leader.

Mr Lee will receive calls by Da Nang City Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh and Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung.

Mr Lee's delegation includes Mrs Lee, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Defence Maliki Osman, Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Baey Yam Keng, Member of Parliament Intan Azura Mokhtar, and senior government officials.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean will be the Acting Prime Minister while Mr Lee is overseas.