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PM Wong makes introductory visit to Thailand, meets Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra
PM Wong is also the first official foreign visitor to Thailand since Paetongtarn's appointment.
November 29, 2024, 03:33 PM
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made an introductory visit to Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday (Nov. 28), at the invitation of Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
PM Wong is also the first foreign visitor on an official visit to Thailand since Paetongtarn's appointment.
Both prime ministers held a joint press conference on Thursday (Nov. 28), where they confirmed the "strong and substantive" relationship between the two countries.
Expanding to new areas of cooperation
During the joint press conference, PM Wong said he and Paetongtarn discussed existing elements of bilateral relationships like defence, trade, and investments.
The two also discussed expanding to new areas of cooperation like food security, energy security, green economy, and digital connectivity.
In the area of green power, both countries can work towards an Implementation Agreement on carbon credits collaboration, which would create new opportunities for Singapore companies.
Another area of cooperation is food security, which is of importance for both Thailand and Singapore.
Singapore is continuously looking to strengthen its food security as it imports most of what it consumes.
Working together as part of Asean
"Now, Singapore and Thailand have much to be optimistic about. We are not only strengthening our bilateral ties, but also working together as part of Asean," PM Wong said.
The Singapore Prime Minister stressed that Asean has "tremendous potential" to be the key centre of economic growth in the region, especially given its diverse markets, size, and youthful population.
"But to maximise Asean's potential, we need to accelerate the integration of our economies."
On digital economy
Singapore and Thailand are pioneers in digital finance, having set up the world's first fast cross-border payment system with the Paynow-PromptPay linkage in 2021.
Both countries have also set up the first Depository Receipts Linkage in Asean between stock exchanges, allowing stocks to be traded on each other's stock exchange. This is the first of such system in Southeast Asia.
"I thank Thailand for the hard work that it has put in, as Chair of the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), that will deepen the integration of the digital economy for Asean," PM Wong said.
"Singapore supports fully Thailand’s leadership in this area."
Close people-to-people link
After the press conference, PM Wong attended an official lunch hosted by Paetongtarn.
He delivered a toast speech at the official lunch, confirming the "deep reservoir of trust between Thailand and Singapore".
PM Wong also pointed to the close link between the people of both countries as they study, live, and work in each other's countries.
Celebrating 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025
"I look forward to Prime Minister (Paetongtarn) and her spouse visiting Singapore next year, when we mark the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic ties," PM Wong said at the joint press conference.
He also alluded to other high-level visits that will happen between the leadership of both counties.
"I look forward to working with Prime Minister Paetongtarn to take our relations to even greater heights."
Top image via Lawrence Wong/Facebook
