PM Wong meets M'sia, Vietnam, & Thailand leaders on sidelines of Asean Summit

This was the first time PM Wong had met the Thai and Vietnamese leaders as PM.

Tan Min-Wei

October 11, 2024, 10:46 AM

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong met with several of his Asean counterparts on the sidelines of this year's Asean summit on Oct. 9, including the Prime Ministers of Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Hi!-lateral meetings

On Oct. 9, PM Wong met with the prime ministers of Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Familiar faces

This is the second time PM Wong has met with Anwar Ibrahim this year, having previously done so on a working visit to Malaysia and Brunei shortly after becoming prime minister.

Malaysia will be Asean chair for 2025, and PM Wong said that Singapore stood ready to support Malaysia when it took up the role.

Good to catch up with Malaysian PM @anwaribrahim. Had a fruitful discussion on bilateral issues and strengthening our multifaceted cooperation. Look forward to meeting him again later this year in Malaysia for our Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat! pic.twitter.com/o6ugH25OgR

— Lawrence Wong (@LawrenceWongST) October 9, 2024

The two PMs had a "fruitful discussion on a wide range of issues, including fostering a positive environment for cooperation, while also addressing long-standing issues".

PM Wong said he looked forward to meeting with Anwar again during the next Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat, due before the end of the year.

Vietnam and pivotal new areas

He also met with Vietnam's PM Pham Minh Chinh, the first time the pair have met while both were PM and part of the first Annual Leaders' Meeting between the two countries.

According to the Vietnam News Agency, Chinh thanked Singapore for its assistance in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, when the Singapore Armed Forces delivered three aircraft loads worth of aid, including hygiene kits, water filters, and meal packs.

Met Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh for the inaugural Annual Leaders’ Meeting. Look forward to the upgrade of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It will deepen our collaboration in pivotal new areas, including renewable energy, carbon credits, and food security. pic.twitter.com/6PGfH5xWXq

— Lawrence Wong (@LawrenceWongST) October 9, 2024

The pair discussed furthering bilateral cooperation, stressing the importance of enhancing cooperation in key areas such as defence, security, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

PM Wong posted on social media about the meeting, saying that he looked forward to the upgrading of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, adding that it would deepen collaboration in "pivotal new areas", including renewable energy, carbon credits, and food security.

Upcoming 60th anniversary

PM Wong also met with Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the first meeting between the pair since either became PM.

Similarly to PM Wong, this was the first Asean Summit for Paetongtarn, as she only recently became Prime Minister in August.

Met Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra @ingshin on the sidelines of @ASEAN meetings. It's our first in-person meeting following our phone call last month. SG and Thailand are old friends. I look forward to working with PM Paetongtarn to further strengthen our bilateral ties. pic.twitter.com/WoIYZ9o6VV

— Lawrence Wong (@LawrenceWongST) October 9, 2024

The Nation reports that the two PMs spoke about tighter economic ties, Singapore has the highest direct investment in Thailand, as well as supporting Thailand's push into the fields of digital economy, AI development, and digital transformation.

Paetongtarn also extended an invitation to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to visit Thailand in 2025 to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.