Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has congratulated Mr Nguyen Phu Trong on his re-appointment as general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Mr Trong, 71, was elected for a second five-year term to the powerful post at the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party.

Mr Lee said in a letter yesterday that the national congress took place at an important juncture as Vietnam is becoming more integrated with the world economy. "I am confident that Vietnam will continue to develop and prosper under your leadership," Mr Lee said. He said that Singapore has excellent relations with Vietnam, underpinned by strong economic, political and people-to-people links.

He also expressed confidence that the close ties between both countries would continue to strengthen. "Please also accept my best wishes for the Vietnamese Tet New Year," he wrote in the letter.