On September 4, Truong Viet Dung, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, met Jaya Ratnam, Ambassador of Singapore to Vietnam, and Edward Lim, Director of the Block71 innovation network under the National University of Singapore.

The meeting discussed opportunities for cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman Truong Viet Dung expressed his admiration for Singapore's smart city model.

He said Hanoi is accelerating its smart city development and hopes to learn from Singapore's experience. Dung also invited Edward Lim to visit Hanoi in October to assist the city in its planning process.

Ambassador Jaya Ratnam congratulated Vietnam on the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day. He noted that Vietnam–Singapore relations are now at the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

According to him, Singapore has been making strong investments in Vietnam, particularly in Hanoi, and values the country's advances in technology.

He stressed that science, technology, and innovation are fields where the two countries can strengthen cooperation. Resolutions 57-NQ/TW and 68-NQ/TW have provided strong policy support for this effort.

Introducing Block71, Edward Lim explained that it is a global network founded by the National University of Singapore, connecting innovation hubs from Silicon Valley and China to Japan and Southeast Asia.

Block71 has supported more than 1,800 startups, including over 10 unicorns, raising more than US$2 billion in venture capital. These achievements make Block71 one of the most successful university-linked incubators in Asia.

From 2025, Block71 Vietnam will become a key node in this global system. At present, Block71 in Ho Chi Minh City is incubating nine tech startups and partnering with major Vietnamese universities to nurture young talent.

Edward Lim reaffirmed his commitment to support Hanoi in building programs that connect startups, businesses, researchers, and young people.

He also hoped that Hanoi would introduce specific mechanisms to help the network operate more effectively.

Experts at the meeting also voiced support for Hanoi's efforts in advancing science, technology, and innovation.

With its abundant human resources, universities expect to play a greater role in bringing technology and research ideas into practical life.

Vice Chairman Truong Viet Dung welcomed the Ambassador's views, Block71's proposals, and the experts' input.

He said Hanoi's innovation center will not only serve the capital but also act as a national and international hub.

Dung hoped that major universities, including Hanoi University of Science and Technology, would actively participate in this effort.

He added that in the first seven months of this year, Hanoi attracted $3.7 billion in foreign direct investment and expects to reach $4.5 billion for the full year.

Next year, the city will begin work on two digital technology parks and continue to expand the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, alongside investments in a smart city project there.

Dung emphasized that to achieve double-digit growth, Hanoi must strongly promote science, technology, and innovation.

With this vision, the Vice Chairman expressed Hanoi's readiness to sign a cooperation agreement with Block71, potentially as soon as October, to advance joint initiatives in technology and innovation.