S’pore constantly looks to improve external ties, takes upgraded partnerships seriously: PM Wong

AUCKLAND – Singapore is always looking to improve its ties with other countries, and where there is scope to deepen cooperation, it will look to elevate diplomatic ties to a higher level, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

The Republic takes its partnerships with other countries very seriously, and when it raises ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), it makes sure there is substance in the relationship, he told Singapore media in a wrap-up interview on Oct 10, at the tail end of a six-day visit to Australia and New Zealand.

The trip, which concluded on Oct 11, saw Singapore upgrade its ties with both countries – from a CSP to a CSP 2.0 with Australia, and from an Enhanced Partnership

to a CSP with New Zealand

CSPs are high-level and broad-ranging diplomatic relations. Other countries that Singapore has such partnerships with are France, India and Vietnam.

Responding to a question on Singapore’s considerations for taking ties with a nation to a CSP, PM Wong said it comes down to whether relations are substantial and if more can be done together across multiple domains, such as defence, economics, climate change and technology.

“If the relationship is very substantial, then it deserves an upgrade. If it is already an existing CSP partner… and perhaps the initiatives are already mature, then it’s time to look at how we can refresh the initiatives,” he said.

The CSPs with Australia and New Zealand have set ambitious agendas that Singapore wants to achieve with both countries over the next 10 years, he noted.

With Australia, the CSP 2.0 encompasses enhanced cooperation in sectors such as defence, green and digital economies, as well as emerging areas like artificial intelligence (AI).

With New Zealand, the CSP includes projects in areas such as trade, security, innovation and supply chain resilience.

PM Wong noted that in the pursuit of like-minded countries to work with, the first instinct for Asia is to look to neighbours within the region, giants such as China and India, or major countries like Japan and South Korea.

But one should not overlook Australia and New Zealand, which are both open, advanced economies that are complementary to Singapore in numerous areas such as connectivity and sustainability. He said there is a lot more the Republic can do with both countries, including harmonising standards, streamlining business processes and bringing their respective business communities closer together.

Asked how these high-level engagements impact the man in the street, PM Wong said the Government’s main communications are with businesses, as they are, in the first instance, the key beneficiaries of these agreements.

For most Singaporeans, the test is whether their lives get better, jobs are available and the prices of goods are affordable, he added.

“All that we are pursuing are means to an end – let’s be clear,” said PM Wong. “Rather than dwell on the means, we want to be able to achieve concrete actions which will lead eventually to better outcomes for Singaporeans, which they will certainly experience.”

With both Australia and New Zealand, there are also agreements on essential supplies, which means that in times of crisis, Singaporeans can be assured that essentials like food will come through, he added.

Apart from laying out a road map for greater bilateral cooperation with the two countries, PM Wong noted that Australia and New Zealand both see it as their strategic priority to strengthen their engagement with South-east Asia.

“They regard their future and destiny as being in Asia, and so they want to be more engaged in Asia,” he said. “And within Asia, they don’t just want to engage powers like China and India – they see Asean as a very important pillar and grouping to engage.”

Singapore can be a gateway for these two countries to engage Asean more intensively, and there are plans to do so. Such cooperation will enable Asean to be more effective in engaging different powers and to serve as a forum where different powers have stakes in the region, he added.

It is in Singapore’s interest that the region has an inclusive framework for cooperation and is not dominated by any single power, said PM Wong.

“We don’t want a world that’s going to end up in competing spheres of influence or exclusive blocs,” he said. “We want a region that’s open and inclusive, and our cooperation with Australia and New Zealand very much enables that.”