Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong participated in the Singapore-New Zealand Virtual Summit on May 27, 2020.

Possible collaboration on developing Covid-19 vaccine

PM Lee put up a Facebook post in the evening about having spoken with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, which included technological solutions and possible collaboration on Covid-19 vaccine development.

Both countries have also affirmed their commitment to keeping supply chains intact as the Covid-19 situation persists, and are in the midst of reopening their economies safely and gradually, with New Zealand having celebrated the lifting of lockdown measures.

The two countries are also discussing creating a green lane for short-term essential travel between Singapore and New Zealand, PM Lee added.

Singapore and New Zealand marks first year of enhanced partnership

Similarly, Ardern has also shared a summary of the conversations she had with various world leaders on May 27, including the meeting with PM Lee.

Ardern said she was able to catch up with PM Lee on some of the works that the two countries have collaborated over the past year of enhanced partnership.

This meeting marks the first-year anniversary of the Singapore-New Zealand Enhanced Partnership, which she said "feels like a very long time ago now".

She also added that as Singapore now receives fresh produce from New Zealand, her country has also benefited from the partnership.

New Zealand has received supplies for testings and other medical equipment from Singapore during this period, Ardern shared.

New Zealand is also working with Australia on a "travel bubble".

Last year in May, Ardern was here in Singapore for an official visit:

Top photo via PM Lee's Facebook