External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar commenced his official trip to Singapore on Saturday, beginning with paying tribute to Subhash Chandra Bose and the valiant soldiers of the Indian National Army. During his visit, he engaged in a series of meetings and interactions aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional issues.
On Monday, Jaishankar met with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at The Istana, where he conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regards and appreciated Lee Hsien Loong’s insights on global affairs. In a social media post, Jaishankar expressed his honor in meeting Prime Minister Lee and highlighted the positive sentiments towards the India-Singapore relationship.
Prior to this meeting, Jaishankar held discussions with Singaporean Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, focusing on advancing ties between India and Singapore, particularly in new age technologies. He also took to social media to share his satisfaction in meeting Minister Wong and exchanging views on enhancing the bilateral relationship and navigating the evolving global economic landscape.
During his visit, Jaishankar also met with Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan to review bilateral cooperation, discussing preparations for the next ISMR meeting and marking 60 years of diplomatic ties. The two leaders exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific and West Asia, reflecting on mutual interests and challenges in the regions.
Additionally, Jaishankar engaged with Singaporean Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, discussing the transformative changes in India and opportunities for collaboration between the two nations. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues, highlighting areas of mutual concern and cooperation.
Furthermore, Jaishankar met with Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong to discuss various aspects of bilateral cooperation, including trade, semiconductors, space, green energy, supply chains, and defense. He expressed his hope to advance these discussions further in the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable.
During his visit, Jaishankar also interacted with the Indian community and addressed prominent corporate figures from Singapore, who provided positive feedback on India’s growth story based on their investment experiences. He expressed confidence in their commitment to increasing business engagement with India.
Following his engagements in Singapore, Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to the Philippines and Malaysia to enhance bilateral relations and address regional issues of mutual concern.
