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PM Wong congratulates US president-elect Donald Trump, says S'pore ready to work closely with new administration
It will be Donald Trump's second term in office.
November 06, 2024, 09:02 PM
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has congratulated United States (U.S.) President-elect Donald Trump and his Republican Party Vice President-elect JD Vance for their victory in the US presidential election.
PM Wong, who is also finance minister, extended his congratulations in a Facebook post on Nov. 6.
Warm congratulations
In his post, PM Wong noted that the presidential election has been "followed closely" by many people.
"Now the American people have chosen and given President Trump a clear mandate," he wrote.
He added that Singapore was "happy" to have hosted Trump in 2018 during the U.S. and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), or North Korea, held in Singapore.
PM Wong highlighted that Singapore and the U.S. have made "significant strides" in strengthening both countries' relationship, especially in areas like defence, the economy, and trade.
He said that 2024 also marks the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, adding that Singapore is the only Asean country with such an agreement with the U.S.
"Our bilateral trade has almost tripled since its inception, and together with Singapore’s investments into the U.S., this has supported over 270,000 high-quality jobs in America," PM Wong wrote.
At the end of his post, he also extended his congratulations to Vance, and said that Singapore is "ready to work closely" with their administration to "advance bilateral ties and further strengthen the U.S.' partnerships in the Asia Pacific."
PM Wong also wrote congratulatory letters to Trump and Vance.The text of his congratulatory letter to Trump is as follows:
The Honorable Donald J Trump
President-elect
United States of America
Dear President-elect Trump,
I extend my warmest congratulations on your election as the 47th President of the United States of America.
The American people have given you an overwhelming mandate and placed their trust in you to lead the US again. I am confident that under your stewardship, the US will continue to grow and exercise its global leadership role.
Singapore and the US share a longstanding, substantive, and mutually beneficial partnership. During your previous term as President, we made great strides in bilateral cooperation. We affirmed our strong defence ties and renewed the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which supports the US’ use of Singapore’s military facilities. The MOU underscores our continued support for the US’ presence in the Asia-Pacific, which remains vital for regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
We also deepened our commercial and economic ties. Since the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement came into effect in 2004, bilateral trade has almost tripled with the US maintaining a consistent trade surplus with Singapore. Singapore continues to serve as a gateway to the Southeast Asian region for around 6,000 American companies. Singapore is also the third largest Asian investor in the US with over 200 companies in around 40 states. Our trade and Singapore investments support more than 270,000 good jobs in the US.
Our partnership has grown to key areas like critical and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, outer space, and nuclear energy. There is much more that our two countries can do together, and I look forward to working closely with you to take relations to greater heights.
I wish you good health and every success and look forward to welcoming you back to Singapore soon.
Yours sincerely,
Lawrence Wong
The text of his congratulatory letter to Vance is as follows:
The Honorable JD Vance
Vice President-elect
United States of America
Dear Vice President-elect Vance,
Please accept my warmest congratulations on your election as the next Vice President of the United States of America.
Singapore and the US share a close and longstanding partnership. Our relations are anchored by strategic trust and cooperation in defence, security, economic, and people-to- people ties. Singapore is a strong supporter of the US’ presence in the Asia-Pacific, including through the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding that enables the US’ access to and use of Singapore’s military facilities.
The US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement has brought benefits to both our countries since its inception in 2004. Bilateral trade has almost tripled with the US maintaining a consistent trade surplus. Singapore is the third largest Asian investor in the US. Our economic partnership supports more than 270,000 high-quality jobs in the US. We also have growing collaboration in emerging areas like critical and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, outer
space, and nuclear energy.
I look forward to working with you and President-elect Trump to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. I also look forward to welcoming you to Singapore.
I wish you good health and success in your new appointment.
Yours sincerely,
Lawrence Wong
Top photos via Lawrence Wong & Donald J. Trump/Facebook
