HO CHI MINH: Singapore and Vietnam are set to take relations a notch higher and extend cooperation beyond the economic sphere. Cooperation in promoting international peace and security, anti-terrorism, and deterrence of transnational crime are on the cards as both countries establish a Strategic Partnership. Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean will be in Vietnam to discuss further cooperation in these areas. Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam said there's room for relations to be taken further. Wrapping up his first overseas visit as Head of State to Vietnam, he said on Friday that it's worthwhile for Singapore's Trade and Industry, Defence, and Home Affairs ministries to be involved in developing the Strategic Partnership framework. He said the existing Connectivity Framework Agreement is progressing well. The agreement is the overarching pillar of bilateral economic cooperation covering areas of education and training, finance, investment, information technology and telecommunications, trade and services, and transportation, In the economic sphere, Dr Tan said Singapore companies can be encouraged to partner Vietnamese firms to invest in neighbouring countries like Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. "The Vietnamese companies, over the last 20 years, have matured their growth. They're now in the position, not only to develop and invest within Vietnam, but also to invest outside Vietnam. We have expertise in this area of developing investments outside own ...