Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered his National Day Message at the newly-opened Jewel Changi Airport.

It was released to the public on Thursday, Aug. 8, on the eve of National Day.

Jewel reflects S'poreans' uniqueness, creativity, and daring

PM Lee described Jewel as a reminder to Singaporeans of what "made this country special".

He said the Jewel project showed that "Singaporeans not only have the creativity and daring to re-invent ourselves, but also the passion and the competence to turn dreams into reality."

PM Lee accepted the reality that other countries will try to emulate Jewel, humble-bragging that Singaporeans "dared to attempt the new, and we did it first."

He emphasised that Singaporeans must constantly come up with fresh ideas and "be ready to break new ground", in order to stay ahead of the rest of the world.

Economic uncertainties and global challenges ahead

PM Lee spoke of the world entering a troubled period, listing three major challenges:

• Economic uncertainties - with trade and globalisation under pressure;
• Strategic risks - with growing friction between major powers, and
• Existential threats - with global warming and rising sea levels.

Urging Singaporeans to "get ready for a very different future", he warned that Singapore was not immune to these problems.

He mentioned the slowing of the local economy due to weakening global demand and international trade affecting Singapore's manufacturing sector and trade-related services.

However, PM Lee pointed out that other parts of the domestic economy has been doing well, such as tourism, FinTech and medical research.

He also credited agencies like Enterprise Singapore for helping to strengthen the entrepreneurial scene.

The government will also take action to stimulate the economy if necessary.

Singaporeans proven capable of overcoming challenges

Despite these troubles, PM Lee stated that he was confident of Singaporeans' abilities to overcome them. He said:

"Throughout our history, when trials and tribulations have beset us, we picked ourselves up, and worked together to overcome them. Each time the world changed, we were able to survive."

He added that Singapore must keep re-inventing and renewing "our economy, our people, and our city" to continue thriving as one nation.

Teasers for new policies to be shared at National Day Rally 2019

PM Lee mentioned that new policies will be revealed during the upcoming National Day Rally.

They included:

• Making preschool and tertiary education more affordable, especially for lower and middle-income families; and
• Raising the retirement and re-employment ages.

Called for Singaporeans to be resolute, united, and bold

PM Lee recalled an encounter with a foreign leader who was visiting Singapore for the first time, who described the island like a "sparkling diamond".

He said that Singapore's "island story has many bright new chapters to unfold", reminding Singaporeans to stay optimistic and resilient, while also challenging ourselves to explore new horizons.

Calling for all Singaporeans to emulate the spirit of our past generations, PM Lee concluded:

"Let us – today’s Singaporeans – be as intrepid as our ancestors who came from distant lands and made this their home; and be as tough as our parents and grandparents who endured war and occupation and rebuilt their lives.

Let us be as resolute as the Pioneer Generation who fought for independence and founded our nation; and be as united as the Merdeka Generation who took up the baton and brought Singapore from Third World to First."

You can watch it in full below:

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Top image from Ministry of Communications and Information.