Singapore and Vietnam have agreed to expedite discussions on facilitating essential business and official travel through a Green Lane arrangement, and are aiming to finalise the agreement by early 2021.
The two countries are also looking to reinstate regular commercial return flights.
In a press statement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said Singapore will be among the first few countries with which Vietnam will resume regularised essential business and official travel.
At the 13th Singapore-Vietnam Bilateral Consultations via videoconference on Tuesday, December 15, Singapore's MFA Permanent Secretary Chee Wee Kiong and Vietnam's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the two countries.
They expressed appreciation for the mutual support rendered amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These include the help provided to the nationals residing in each other’s countries and the facilitation of their return home, the sharing of information and best practices, and the mutual contribution of medical supplies and equipment.
Permanent Secretary Chee and Vice Minister Dung also affirmed the importance of enhancing cooperation to combat the economic impact of the pandemic – including through boosting economic linkages, resuming air connectivity, facilitating travel between both countries, and maintaining supply chain connectivity.