SINGAPORE: Singapore and Germany have agreed to raise their bilateral ties to a “strategic partnership”, mentioned the Ministry of International Affairs (MFA) on Tuesday (Nov 19).
It will “assist encourage higher peace, stability, and prosperity within the Asia-Pacific” area, the 2 nations mentioned in a joint declaration supplied by MFA.
The transfer got here as Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz met on the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Each leaders reaffirmed ties between the 2 nations and their dedication to proceed working as “like-minded companions”, MFA mentioned in a press release.
“Germany and Singapore are long-standing companions who take pleasure in a substantive and multifaceted relationship. We additionally share a robust dedication to multilateralism and a rules-based worldwide order,” the joint declaration mentioned.
“This strategic convergence underpins our frequent need to advertise free commerce and preserve an open and inclusive worldwide structure.”
The 2 nations added that their relations “embody robust political ties, flourishing commerce and funding, vital cooperation in defence, safety, and analysis and innovation, and heat people-to-people ties”.
“Reflecting the revolutionary and forward-looking nature of our partnership, we’re increasing our cooperation into newer areas like clear vitality, local weather motion, connectivity, cybersecurity and digitalisation,” the joint declaration mentioned.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
The strategic partnership will construct on the “Companions for a Resilient and Sustainable Future” joint declaration Singapore and Germany made in 2022, and comes forward of the sixtieth anniversary of the institution of diplomatic relations between the 2 nations subsequent yr.
The joint declaration mentioned that will probably be guided by a joint work plan with initiatives throughout 5 pillars: Defence and safety; commerce and the digital financial system; local weather and clear expertise; science and innovation; and digitalisation, synthetic intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Underneath the defence and safety pillar, each nations agreed to proceed and enhance high-level engagements and visits, and deepen military-to-military cooperation in areas comparable to digitalisation and cybersecurity.
On the commerce and digital financial system entrance, they agreed to deepen financial collaboration on the government-to-government, government-to-business, and business-to-business ranges via the Germany-Singapore Framework for Sustainability and Innovation signed on Nov 13, 2022.
The joint declaration mentioned that there may also be continued assist for the EU-Singapore Free Commerce Settlement, “which serves as a pathfinder for a doable future inter-regional FTA” between the European Union and the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Within the local weather and inexperienced expertise pillar, each nations will strengthen their cooperation on inexperienced maritime decarbonisation initiatives.
This consists of port-to-port cooperation, the place data can be shared on zero- and near-zero emissions fuels, and security protocols for the dealing with and bunkering of such fuels.
Singapore and Germany may also create areas of cooperation on carbon pricing, together with carbon tax, carbon credit score agreements and decarbonisation expertise.
The science and innovation pillar will see the implementation of joint analysis grants and tasks in areas comparable to quantum expertise, inexperienced chemistry and medical expertise.
Each nations will deepen assist for cooperation in schooling via partnerships and exchanges between faculties, universities and vocational coaching underneath the fifth and ultimate pillar, which in addition they described as “multi-level cooperation for the longer term”.
Cultural ties may also be strengthened additional via assist for institutes such because the Goethe-Institut Singapore as hubs of communication.
Singapore and Germany may also work collectively to strengthen region-to-region cooperation between the EU and ASEAN in pursuit of mutual pursuits in areas comparable to digital commerce, inexperienced applied sciences, inexperienced providers and provide chain resilience.
“The respective overseas ministries will repeatedly overview progress and refine the joint work plan accordingly, to make sure that we successfully determine and pursue alternatives for cooperation,” the joint declaration mentioned.
“Via this framework, we’ll harness our mutual strengths and work with key companions throughout all sectors to raise our relationship.”
