Jaishankar meets Singapore PM Lee & senior ministers to further deepen bilateral ties

Singapore: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Monday called on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and other senior ministers and discussed ways to further the strategic bilateral ties, and the situation in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia regions.

Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to Singapore and reached here on Saturday. He addressed the Indian diaspora on Sunday and met with investors on Saturday.

“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,” Jaishankar posted on X.

“His positive sentiments on India-Singapore relationship have always been a source of strength for our ties,” Jaishankar said about Prime Minister Lee’s support the bilateral relationship.

Apart from foreign minister Balakrishnan, Jaishankar held separate meetings with Minister of Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean.

He also met finance minister Lawrence Wong and Minister of Home Affairs & Law K Shanmugam.

“Delighted to meet Singapore FM @VivianBala. Reviewed the progress of our bilateral cooperation. Spoke about preparations for the next ISMR meeting. Discussed marking 60 years of our diplomatic ties,” Jaishankar posted on X.

“Exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific and West Asia,” he wrote.

“Always a pleasure to welcome my good friend Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar to Singapore,” Balakrishnan wrote on X.

He noted that “Singapore and India share warm ties, underpinned by our cooperation in forward-looking areas such as skills development and digitalisation, and close people-to-people links.” “We had a wide ranging discussion on regional and global developments. We agreed that bilateral cooperation had progressed well, and that it was important to keep up regular exchanges between both countries,” Balakrishnan posted.

Jaishankar, whose day started by meeting Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, posted on X after the meeting along with a photo: “Discussed trade, semiconductors, space, green energy, supply chains, and defence. Hope to take these forward in the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable.” His next meeting was with national security minister Teo Chee Hean.

“Good to meet with Singapore Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean. Discussed the transformational changes in India and the opportunities they offer for our partnership. Also exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues,” he posted on X after the meeting.

“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,” Jaishankar posted.

Before departing from Singapore, he also caught up with Home Minister K Shanmugam. “Great to catch up with Minister of Home Affairs & Law K Shanmugam as I end my Singapore visit. Appreciate his insights and assessments. Value his consistent support for our strategic partnership,” Jaishankar said.

Earlier on Saturday, Jaishankar told Singapore-based investors of opportunities emerging in the manufacturing sector, especially as India embarks on the journey to build a semiconductor-led industry.

On Sunday, the Minister described the strength of the growing relationship with the city-state at an interaction with some 1,500 Indian diaspora at the newly built Quantum Arena, an auditorium built by an Indian-led education group, in association with the Global Indian International School.

Commenting on Jaishankar Sunday’s update to the diaspora, Nimit Shedh from the Singapore Gujarati Society, said, “It was very insightful. Jaishankar is always very insightful and the way he presented India to the diasporav… this brings us very close to India, it helps us get the understanding of the Indian Government views on how they are going to tackle various issues.” “The Minister has shared with us how India has come a very long way, it makes us very proud,” said Puneet Pushkarna, a Singapore-based businessman at the Jaishankar interaction here. “The diaspora should be very positive of getting an update on the latest Indian industrial development,” he said.

Jaishankar will also visit the Philippines and Malaysia.

The March 23-27 visit will focus on enhancing bilateral relations with the three countries, and would provide an opportunity for engagement on regional issues of mutual concern, the Ministry of External Affairs had said before Jaishankar’s departure. (PTI)