Singapore: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed admiration for Singapore's development model and outlined India's ambition to replicate Singapore's success within its own borders. During a meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday, Modi lauded Singapore as a beacon of progress for other developing nations.
Modi highlighted India's goal to create "several Singapores" domestically, praising the ongoing collaboration between the two nations. He described the newly established ministerial roundtable as a groundbreaking initiative to achieve this vision.
Congratulating Wong on his recent appointment, Modi expressed confidence in Singapore's new leadership. "This is our first meeting since you took office. Congratulations and best wishes for your tenure. I am sure that under the fourth-generation leadership, Singapore will continue to advance rapidly," he said.
Wong, who became Singapore's prime minister in May, succeeded Lee Hsien Loong after two decades in office. Wong, previously the deputy prime minister and finance minister, is now at the helm of the fourth-generation People's Action Party (PAP) government, which has steered Singapore's economic progress for over fifty years.
Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday following his visit to Brunei, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to the small Southeast Asian nation. During his two-day visit, he highlighted several areas of collaborative initiatives, including skills development, digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, healthcare, sustainability, and cybersecurity.
He also acknowledged Singapore's role as a key partner in India's Act East policy and emphasized the shared democratic values between the two countries. Modi noted that over the past decade, trade between India and Singapore has more than doubled, and mutual investments have tripled to exceed USD 150 billion. Singapore was also the first country to adopt India's UPI Person-to-Person payment system.
Further strengthening bilateral ties, Modi mentioned that 17 Singaporean satellites have been launched from Indian soil in the past decade. The strategic partnership extends to various sectors, including defense and connectivity, with notable agreements between Singapore Airlines and Air India.
Looking ahead, Modi spoke of the upcoming 60th anniversary of India-Singapore relations in 2025 and called for both nations to create an action plan to commemorate this milestone. He also announced the forthcoming inauguration of India's first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre in Singapore, honoring the ancient Tamil saint whose teachings continue to inspire today.
Modi quoted Thiruvalluvar's wisdom: "The world admires those who are known for their sense of justice and service to others," and expressed his belief that the Indian diaspora in Singapore embodies these values, contributing to the strong bilateral relationship.
Recalling his presentation of India's Indo-Pacific vision at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to working with Singapore to promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity, and expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to him.
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