MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

MR WONG KAN SENG Minister for Foreign Affairs

Singapore's inherent vulnerabilities and limited resources as a small country impose special demands on its foreign policy. After 25 years of independence, political stability and dynamic economic growth, Singapore is on the threshold of becoming a developed country. Its foreign policy interests and contacts have broadened.

Singapore will honour its obligations as a responsible member of the global community. The international system is undergoing profound changes. The outcome cannot be predicted. We need to protect and promote Singapore's interests in a new environment, and in particular ensure that the rule of law prevails in the international order.

Relations with our immediate neighbours in ASEAN, and with others such as the US, the EC and Japan remain important foreign policy preoccupations. But we must also develop new relationships. We need to find new and more sophisticated ways to promote regional stability, cooperation and bilateral relations with neighbours and friends.

The Growth Triangle will lay a new foundation for political and economic relations with Indonesia and Malaysia. The Fourth ASEAN Summit will be held in Singapore. We will do our part to keep ASEAN relevant and vibrant.

We are beginning to take on new obligations. Singapore participated in the Namibia peacekeeping effort and the rescue mission after the Philippines earthquake. It has assisted other countries afflicted by natural disasters and sent a modest medical contingent to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf Crisis. There will be more such missions.

Within our capabilities and means, we will play our part. We will expand technical cooperation with both developing and developed countries. We support the Malaysian proposal for a new East Asian grouping. We will continue actively to promote Asia-Pacific economic cooperation, especially in APEC. We place importance on the UN.

The Foreign Service is growing to meet these new challenges and demands. Foreign policy must be an effective instrument to protect and promote Singapore's national interests in the years ahead.