Singapore (VNA) - A Vietnamese Cultural Day was held in Singapore on July 31 nightin celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Singaporediplomatic ties (August 1) and five years of the Strategic Partnership betweenthe two countries (September 1).

Theevent was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham BinhMinh, who was on an official visit to Singapore from July 30-31, andSingaporean Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu, along withhundreds of guests.

Inhis opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minhsaid over the past 45 years, the Vietnam-Singapore relationship hascontinuously moved forward with marked progresses made in cooperation invarious areas, ranging from politics to economy, trade, investment, nationaldefence and security, education-training, and tourism.

Singaporeis one of the first ASEAN nations with which Vietnam has set up the StrategicPartnership, he said, noting that the two countries have shared similarviewpoints and strategic visions on many major issues such as the regionalstructure, ASEAN’s central role, and the advocacy of multilateralism and therule of law in a changing world.

Successesin bilateral economic, trade and investment collaboration have made Vietnam andSingapore indispensable partners of each other, the diplomat said.

Singaporeis the leading ASEAN trade partner and the eighth largest trade partnerglobally of Vietnam, he said, adding that Singapore’s projects have played akey role in Vietnam’s regional economic transformation.

Minhhighlighted the nine Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) in Vietnam as asymbol of the bilateral economic and investment ties.

Heaffirmed that for each Vietnamese, Singapore is a great and faithful friend.Cultural similarities have brought the two countries closer and served as afirm pillar for the relationship.

EchoingMinh’s views, Singaporean Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fupraised the growing bilateral partnership, affirming that cultural cooperationand people-to-people exchange is a spotlight of the bilateral ties.

Vietnamand Singapore will step up cultural collaboration and exchange between their peoplein order to enhance mutual understanding and trust, thus contributing toconsolidating and deepening the Strategic Partnership, she said.

TheVietnamese cultural day featured impressive art performances and paintings byVietnamese and Singaporean artists along with Vietnamese cuisine. A highlightof the event was a drama directed by Singaporean director Chua Soo Pong andperformed by Vietnamese and Singaporean artists.-VNA