Shanmugam welcomes firmer action by Vietnam

[SINGAPORE] Singapore Foreign Minister K Shanmugam welcomed Vietnam's assurance of firm action against protests at two Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs), and highlighted to his Vietnamese counterpart the impact of unrest on business confidence.

Mr Shanmugam "expressed Singapore's deep concern over the riots that had taken place, and highlighted that the VSIPs were endorsed by the governments of Vietnam and Singapore", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh had called Mr Shanmugam on May 16 to discuss the protests in Binh Duong province. Mr Minh had assured Mr Shanmugam that Vietnam will take all necessary steps to ensure that the parks were properly protected, and that Vietnamese authorities will take firm action to deal with the situation.