President Tharman, SM Lee send condolence letters to Vietnam after passing of former president
President Tharman, SM Lee send condolence letters to Vietnam after passing of former president
SINGAPORE - President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong sent condolence letters to Vietnam's leaders on May 26, following the death of the country's former president Tran Duc Luong.
Mr Luong had died on May 20 at the age of 88 after an illness, reported Viet Nam News . He served as Vietnam's president from 1997 to 2006 .
'On behalf of the people of Singapore, I would like to offer my deepest condolences on the passing of former President Tran Duc Luong,' President Tharman wrote to his counterpart, President Luong Cuong.
Mr Tharman noted that Mr Luong had 'served his country with steadfast determination during a time of profound transformation for Vietnam'.
Mr Tharman added that the late Vietnamese leader had helped to steer his country in the aftermath of Doi Moi, or a series of market reforms in 1986, seeing Vietnam through the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, and 'its integration into Asean's structures' after it became a full member in 1995.
'His contributions were immense, and will be remembered,' said Mr Tharman.
Mr Lee wrote to Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, remembering his introductory visit to Vietnam in December 2004 where he met Mr Luong as then-Prime Minister of Singapore.
'President Luong was a statesman who devoted his life to serving his country,' said Mr Lee.
'Under his leadership, Vietnam advanced steadily along its reform path and deepened its engagement with Singapore and the rest of the region. He played a crucial role in laying the foundation for the enduring trust and friendship between our two countries. His legacy will be remembered.'
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
12 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Russian drone strike on Ukrainian rail hub Lozova leaves two dead
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox View shows building of a railway station, damaged during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Lozova, Kharkiv region, Ukraine August 5, 2025. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv region/Handout via REUTERS LOZOVA, Ukraine - Russia carried out its largest attack on Lozova, a railway hub east of Ukraine, on Tuesday, with dozens of drone strikes that left two people dead and wounded 13 others, including two children, Ukrainian officials said. Governor Oleh Syniehubov said the attack involved 34 drones and damaged the train station and a nearby rail depot. It temporarily knocked out power to 80% of the town of around 50,000 in the Kharkiv region, which is connected by rail to strategic cities in Ukraine's east. "Critical infrastructure, apartment buildings and private homes have been damaged ... Lozova has endured the largest attack since the beginning of the war," Serhiy Zelenskiy, head of the town council, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Rubble and debris littered the station, a stately Soviet-era building which was heavily damaged in the attack. "For Lozova it was a very unusual situation. Of course there have been strikes before, but nothing as big as what we had this evening," said local resident Oksana Samoilenko, 41. Some residents with cars had left the town earlier in the morning following the strike, she said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore More train rides taken in first half-year, but overall public transport use stays below 2019 levels Asia Philippines, India shore up ties amid China tensions, US tariff risks Singapore 'She had a whole life ahead of her': Boyfriend mourns Yishun fatal crash victim Singapore Doctor hounded ex-girlfriend, threatened to share her intimate photos, abducted her off street Asia Trump's transactional foreign policy fuels 'US scepticism' in Taiwan Singapore Beauty industry consumers hit by 464% rise in prepayment losses in first half of 2025 Singapore Over 5,900 vape products found in car at Woodlands Checkpoint Singapore 13 taken to hospital after accident involving SBS buses, car in Tampines State railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia said one of its employees was among the two people killed and four others wounded. Ukraine's air force said it had downed 29 of 46 drones launched by Russia across Ukraine overnight. One ballistic missile and 17 drones struck various locations, it said. There was no immediate comment from Russia. Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. REUTERS
Straits Times
12 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Cambodia-Thailand border clash a setback for Asean: Vivian Balakrishnan
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (left) in a conversation moderated by Associate Professor Simon Tay at the 17th Asean and Asia Forum on Aug 5. SINGAPORE – The recent armed clash between Cambodia and Thailand was a setback not only for peace in the region, but also Asean's credibility, said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. The territorial dispute raised questions about Asean's ability to prevent and manage crises, and Dr Balakrishnan said while such disputes are not uncommon in South-east Asia, he emphasised that violence can be avoided. When it does occur, it reflects a failure of leadership, said Dr Balakrishnan, who also cautioned against letting matters deteriorate into catastrophe , as the region faces rising geopolitical tensions and an increasingly fragmented global economic landscape. Speaking at the 17th Asean and Asia Forum organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs on Aug 5, Dr Balakrishnan described the Cambodia-Thailand conflict as a serious blow for the grouping. 'There's no need to put lipstick on this. This is a setback, a major setback, not just for peace and stability, but for credibility in Asean,' he told an audience of about 300 diplomats, academics and business leaders at the Parkroyal on Beach Road. Countries in the region have long lived with unresolved territorial disputes between them , which Dr Balakrishnan noted 'is not a short list'. But he stressed that the existence of such disputes does not mean they must result in violence. ' Just because you have got areas which have not yet been delimited or which are in contention, does not mean it has to lead to violence, and the fact that violence occurs is a failure of diplomacy, and arguably complicated when leadership is hamstrung,' he said. The solution, said Dr Balakrishnan, is for nations to f irst take care of their own societies – a point he has often made by emphasising that foreign policy begins at home. He noted that a backlash against globalisation and trade, including the weaponisation of tariffs and supply chains, often stems from domestic insecurity and a loss of confidence that existing systems are delivering fair outcomes for all segments of society . 'If your home front is not settled, it is very difficult to conduct economic or diplomatic (policy),' he said. Dr Balakrishnan's comments came after a ceasefire was brokered on July 28 in Malaysia, who is this year's Asean chair, following five days of clashes between Cambodia and Thailand. The fighting left more than 40 dead and displaced over 300,000 people along their shared border. The incident remains one of the most serious armed confrontations between Asean member states in recent years. Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, who spoke in a separate session at the same forum, said Malaysia's chairmanship played a key role in calming tensions. 'The decisive decision by the Asean chair to intervene has been remarkable,' he said, adding that defence ministers from both sides have resumed talks in Kuala Lumpur and that progress is being made. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Aug 5 that Putrajaya is prepared to deploy a monitoring team to the border if requested by both Thailand and Cambodia, though for now, the situation is being observed remotely via satellite and coordinated through Malaysia's defence attaché. The Cambodian-Thai tensions come as Asean continues to manage the fallout from the Myanmar crisis, which has seen ongoing violence and political instability since a military coup in 2021. The grouping has barred Myanmar's ruling junta from key meetings due to their failure to implement peace plans and end the violence that has gripped the country since it seized power. Dr Balakrishnan said the roots of the conflict there run deeper than politics, citing Myanmar's long-standing failure to forge a cohesive national identity. National reconciliation, moral leadership, and political imagination are essential, he said, adding that military force is not sufficient. Push for deeper integration Both leaders in their separate sessions also spoke about the broader regional and global context, warning that the space for cooperation is narrowing amid growing economic fragmentation and weakening multilateral institutions. To a question on how Asean will navigate the current economic situation, Dr Kao said that member states are responding both individually and collectively, though there is still considerable uncertainty ahead. On the impact of US tariffs, he said the immediate priority is to minimise their effects and protect livelihoods. Governments are working to finalise the upgraded Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (Atiga), which is expected to be signed in October, as part of efforts to move closer to the grouping's single market goal. The Atiga, a key free trade agreement for the region, was signed in 2009 and came into force a year later. Negotiations to upgrade this agreement were concluded in May. Meanwhile, Dr Balakrishnan described the current moment as the end of the post-Cold War era of rules-based globalisation. The result, he said, is a 'world disorder' in which international institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and the World Trade Organisation are increasingly paralysed. He noted that since January, developments such as new United States tariffs and the so-called 'Liberation Day' shift in trade policy have underscored the urgency of adapting Singapore's external and domestic strategies. While bilateral and regional deals continue to be signed, he warned that the erosion of global norms means small states like Singapore must navigate a more transactional and fragmented world. Dr Balakrishnan said that Asean must engage all partners and practise flexible multilateralism but also acknowledged that operating by consensus can at times feel like a straitjacket that slows progress. The goal, he said, is not to abandon consensus, but to recognise that insisting on unanimity can make decisions nearly impossible, especially when some members act as spoilers. He stressed the need for a system in which if enough members want to move forward constructively, they should be allowed to do so. Asean should continue seeking compromises, but not allow consensus to become a permanent obstacle. For Singapore to tackle global shifts, Dr Balakrishnan outlined a three-part strategy of reforming global institutions, deepening regional integration, and reinforcing t he country's domestic economic resilience. Global institutions must be reformed in terms of representation, decision-making, and process, said Dr Balakrishnan. And on its part, Singapore is contributing to this effort through its nominations to international bodies. He gave the example of veteran diplomat and international law expert Rena Lee, who will be fielded by Singapore for election as a judge at the International Court of Justice in 2026. On regionalisation, Dr Balakrishnan noted that Singapore's leaders have consistently attended Asean meetings, and the Republic is working with the grouping to expand key trade agreements and launch new economic frameworks. Regarding efforts to reinforce Singapore's domestic economic resilience, Dr Balakrishnan pointed to an ongoing review of the country's economic strategy, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Aug 4. The review will develop long-term plans to boost Singapore's global competitiveness and enhance the start-up ecosystem. Committees led by political office-holders will engage stakeholders and present their recommendations by mid-2026. Singapore is also focused on managing its external partnerships carefully. Dr Balakrishnan said Asean remains Singapore's 'innermost core' politically, militarily and economically. He stressed the need for member states to 'hang together or hang separately.' Beyond the region, Singapore must also carefully manage its relations with the United States and China, Dr Balakrishnan said. This includes handling ties bilaterally, as well as navigating 'space between them, and where we fit'. 'We don't want to be forced on two sides, but we want to have a value proposition for both, so that they have a stake in our success and prosperity,' he said.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Two Chinese nationals dead in Bali boat accident: Authorities
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Locals and rescue workers attempt to recover an overturned speedboat after it sank near Sanur port in Bali on Aug 5. SANUR, Indonesia – Two Chinese nationals were killed and an Indonesian was missing on Aug 5 after a boat sailing to the popular island of Bali with dozens onboard sank and ran aground, rescue authorities said. A fast boat travelling from Nusa Penida 'sank and ran aground' near Sanur port in Bali's east, the island's search and rescue agency said in a statement. Head of the rescue agency in Bali's provincial capital Denpasar, Mr I Nyoman Sidakarya, confirmed two Chinese nationals were killed and a 23-year-old Indonesian remained missing. The boat was left overturned on a beach near Sanur port, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. The rescue agency did not say the cause of the Chinese nationals' deaths. The boat was carrying 80 people, including 73 foreign nationals, two Indonesians and five crew members, the rescue agency in Denpasar said. Marine accidents are a regular occurrence in Indonesia, a South-east Asian archipelago nation of around 17,000 islands, in part due to lax safety standards and sometimes due to bad weather. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 'She had a whole life ahead of her': Boyfriend mourns Yishun fatal crash victim Singapore Doctor hounded ex-girlfriend, threatened to share her intimate photos, abducted her off street Singapore Beauty industry consumers hit by 464% rise in prepayment losses in first half of 2025 Business Singapore retail sales up by 2.3%, driven by sales of motor vehicles Singapore Over 5,900 vape products found in car at Woodlands Checkpoint Singapore Locally developed VR tool can detect pre-dementia with almost 90% accuracy Singapore 13 taken to hospital after accident involving SBS buses, car in Tampines Sport Singapore National Olympic Council launches book series honouring local athletes In July, a ferry sank on its way to Bali from eastern Java island, killing at least 19 people. In March, a boat carrying 16 people capsized in rough waters off Bali, killing an Australian woman and injuring at least one other person. AFP
