Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr K Shanmugam): The international environment is becoming more unpredictable and fluid. Major shifts of global power and ideas are underway and are both symptoms and causes of the continuing economic and political uncertainties. Few countries are as exposed to the world as we are. As a small country we have no choice but to engage the world. It is therefore vital that Singapore remains cohesive, alert and nimble, both in order to take advantage of the opportunities and to get out of harm's way if necessary. We will cooperate with all countries and institutions that wish to cooperate with us, while always doing what we must to protect and promote Singapore's national interests in this increasingly challenging international environment.

ASEAN remains our core interest and the cornerstone of our foreign policy. Building a more integrated and cohesive ASEAN is an overriding strategic imperative. It enhances our economic competitiveness and gives our region a strong platform to engage key international players, especially the US and China. We should not be distracted from our goal of building an ASEAN Community by 2015 through the implementation of the three Community Blueprints (political-security, economic and socio-cultural) and preserving ASEAN's centrality in a balanced and open regional architecture. This is the necessary condition for strengthening ASEAN's relations with the major powers through ASEAN's dialogue partnerships, the ASEAN Plus Three, the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Relations with our closest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, are good. Strengthening these relationships on the basis of mutual benefit and mutual respect remains a key interest. With Malaysia, the resolution of the railway land issue and the handing over of the waterworks under the 1961 Water Agreement to the Johor water authorities were milestones in the bilateral relationship. With these issues settled and upcoming projects like the joint development in Iskandar Malaysia and the Rapid Transit System link between Johor Baru and Singapore, there is strong impetus for closer cooperation between Singapore and Malaysia. Relations with Indonesia are anchored by robust trade and investment links and cooperation in sectors such as health, environment and counter-terrorism. Cooperation with the Riau Islands (KEPRI), especially our partnership in the Batam, Bintan and Karimun Special Economic Zone, will remain a priority. Bilateral relations with the other ASEAN member states are strong and anchored in the bedrock of shared interests. They will be further strengthened through regular bilateral exchanges and institutionalised linkages, including technical assistance through the Singapore Cooperation Programme and Initiative for ASEAN Integration.

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Despite its economic and political challenges, the US remains the only truly global power. The US military presence in our region continues to be the vital and irreplaceable foundation of the stability that is the necessary condition for growth. The US remains our key strategic and economic partner. At the same time, we will continue to build on our excellent relations with China, sustaining the expansion of our cooperation beyond the economic and political spheres to areas such as education, culture and human resource development. Japan, the Republic of Korea and Australia will continue to be important political and economic partners. We will also enhance our ongoing engagement of developing countries and regions, such as India, the Gulf states in the Middle East, Africa and Brazil and other Latin American countries, so as to grow economic opportunities for Singapore.

At the multilateral level, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) remains the over-arching forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, and trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific. In the uncertain and volatile global economic climate, it will be even more important to work closely with APEC member economies on concrete initiatives that can help support the global trade agenda and deal with global challenges. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is of particular strategic significance and great economic potential. As a trade-dependent country with a core interest in a robust multilateral trading system, Singapore will also continue to work with like-minded countries to strengthen the World Trade Organization (WTO). We will work to secure more bilateral and regional FTAs, such as the one currently being negotiated with the EU.

As a responsible member of the international community with an intrinsic interest in promoting a rules-based international system, we support efforts to reform global institutions, such as the UN, the IMF and World Bank, so as to enable them to deal more effectively with global issues such as climate change, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and international financial regulation. The G20 has a significant role to play in coordinating financial and macro-economic policies to address global imbalances. As a major financial centre and a member of the Global Governance Group (3G), Singapore will continue to encourage more dialogue between the G20 and non-G20 members.

Within our means, we will continue to provide technical assistance to developing countries through the Singapore Cooperation Programme, bilaterally or in collaboration with other countries and international organisations. We are committed to helping developing countries attain the Millennium Development Goals, by building their human resources, in particular, their capabilities in public administration and sustainable development.

MFA will continue to work closely with the Overseas Singaporean Unit to keep Singaporeans abroad connected to Singapore. We will continue to provide prompt and effective consular assistance to Singaporeans in distress overseas as, for example, during the Queensland floods, the Christchurch earthquake, the earthquake-tsunami in Japan, and political unrest in the Middle East. The number of Singaporeans seeking assistance overseas will increase as more Singaporeans travel for work, leisure and education. MFA will accordingly expand our capacity and work closely with other agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of Singaporeans overseas.

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