Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s visit to Singapore and his meetings with the country’s top leadership presented an opportunity to take stock of the progress in several areas of co-operation and to further deepen the bilateral Strategic Partnership, said an official statement from the ministry.
Jaishankar was in Singapore from March 23 to 25; during the visit, he called on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong.
They exchanged views on deepening engagement in the identified pillars of bilateral co-operation, including fintech, digitalisation, green economy, skills development and food security, said India’s Ministry of External Affairs (EAM) in a statement yesterday.
“Honoured to call on Prime Minister @leehsienloong at The Istana. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Valued his perspectives on the current state of the world. His positive sentiments on [India-Singapore] relationship have always been a source of strength for our ties,” Jaishankar wrote on X.
“Pleased to meet DPM and Finance Minister @LawrenceWongST. Shared perspectives on advancing our relationship especially on new age technologies. Also exchanged views on the evolving global economic situation,” the Indian minister wrote on X.
Jaishankar also held discussions with his Singapore counterpart, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
He had several bilateral engagements with the leadership and senior ministers of the Singapore Cabinet, and discussed ways to further the strategic bilateral ties and the situation in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia regions.
“The visit presented an opportunity to further deepen the Strategic Partnership between India and Singapore and to take stock of progress in several areas of co-operation,” said the MEA.
Jaishankar held separate meetings with Singapore Minister of Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, focusing on bilateral co-operation in trade and investment, green energy and food security; Singapore Co-ordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean; and Singapore Minister of Home Affairs & Law K Shanmugam.
During his visit to the city-state, Jaishankar paid homage to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the Indian National Army war memorial.
He interacted with the Indian community in Singapore and attended an event organised by the Institute of South Asian Studies, where he addressed think-tank representatives and policy-makers.
Singapore is the current country co-ordinator for India at ASEAN and was invited as a Guest Country during India’s Presidency of the G20 last year.
