Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the exchange of an MoU between India and Singapore, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Photo: PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed confidence in Singapore’s fourth generation of leaders, praising the city-state’s remarkable progress and calling it a model for developing countries around the world.
During his talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Modi congratulated the prosperous country’s prime minister and said: This is our first meeting since you assumed the office of prime minister. My heartiest congratulations and best wishes to you. I am confident that Singapore will progress even faster under the leadership of 4G.
Wong was sworn in as Singapore’s new prime minister in May. The 51-year-old economist-turned-politician succeeded Lee Hsien Loong, 72, who stepped down after two decades in the role, both of whom were members of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) that has driven Singapore’s economic progress for more than five decades. Wong, who was deputy prime minister, leads a fourth-generation PAP government as prime minister and finance minister.
Modi flew to Singapore on Wednesday after completing his visit to Brunei, the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to Brunei.
Modi stressed that Singapore is not just a partner country but an inspiration for every developing country.
“We also aim to create multiple Singapores within India. I am glad that we are working together to achieve this goal. The ministerial roundtable that we have set up is a groundbreaking mechanism,” he said.
Collaborative initiatives have been identified in areas such as education, digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and AI, healthcare, sustainability and cybersecurity, said the prime minister, who is on a two-day visit to the Asian financial hub with the global business community.
Singapore is also a key facilitator of India’s Act East policy, Modi said.
Our shared belief in democratic values unites us. I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit Singapore at the start of my third term, he said.
Highlighting the strategic partnership between India and Singapore, Prime Minister Modi said, “In the last 10 years, our trade has more than doubled. The mutual investment has almost tripled to over $150 billion. Singapore was the first country with which we launched the UPI Person-to-Person payment facility.”
Elaborating on the developments in bilateral cooperation between the two countries, he said that in the last 10 years, 17 Singapore satellites have been launched from Indian soil. The cooperation has gained momentum from skilling to defence sector. The agreement between Singapore Airlines and Air India has strengthened connectivity.
Together, we will take our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The 3.5 lakh people of Indian origin living in Singapore are the strong foundation of our relationship… We are forever grateful to all of Singapore for the place and honour given to Subhash Chandra Bose, Azad Hind Fauj and Little India in Singapore, Modi said.
In 2025, the India-Singapore relationship will celebrate its 60th anniversary. To mark the occasion with grandeur, he called on both countries to work together to formulate an action plan.
“I am pleased to inform you that India’s first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre will soon be opened in Singapore. The great saint Thiruvalluvar gave the world guiding thoughts in the most ancient language Tamil. His work, the Thirukkural, was composed almost 2,000 years ago, but its ideas are relevant even today,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister quoted Thiruvalluvar as saying, “Nayanodu Nanri Purind Payanudaiyar Panbu Paratattum Ulagu (The world admires people who are known for their sense of justice and service to others) and said he is confident that millions of Indians living in Singapore will also be inspired by these ideas and contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries.
Modi recalled presenting India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific region in Singapore during the Shangri-La Dialogue.
We will continue to work together with Singapore to promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. Once again, my sincere thanks for the honour and warm hospitality extended to me, he said.
First publication: 05 Sep 2024 | 15:06 IST