Singapore (VNA) – Singapore and New Zealand on October 10 agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), while mapping out a roadmap to further strengthen cooperation across multiple areas including trade, security, innovation, and supply-chain resilience.
The decision was made as the two nations celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 25th anniversary of their Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
At a joint press conference with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that since the last upgrade of bilateral relations in 2019, the two countries have completed more than 40 joint initiatives. He emphasised that taking the partnership to a higher level would enable both sides to pursue even more ambitious and innovative projects.
Singapore PM Wong noted that under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two nations would hold annual high-level meetings, enhance investment and capital-market cooperation, and place a stronger focus on food security. He added that the two sides have also charted cooperation directions for the next decade through 72 joint initiatives.
The Singaporean leader underscored that an important aspect of the CSP is the promotion of shared strategic priorities, including supporting the wider region by jointly implementing capacity-building programmes for Asia-Pacific countries.
Within the CSP framework, Singapore and New Zealand also agreed to adopt a joint arrangement on essential supplies, aimed at mitigating the impact of supply-chain disruptions and ensuring that key goods such as food, fuel, and medicines can continue to flow even during crises.
On defence cooperation, both sides will explore new areas of collaboration, including unmanned technologies.
During their meeting, Wong and Luxon stressed that although the international order is changing, the sovereign right of nations to determine their own rules and shared norms remains unchanged.
The two leaders also agreed that upgrading ASEAN–New Zealand relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a shared strategic priority. ASEAN currently maintains Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States.
According to the plan, Singapore will assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027, while New Zealand will chair the Pacific Islands Forum in the same year./.
