S'pore & France expand bilateral ties, working together to put in place outlines & pillars of new global order

Singapore and France have expanded their bilateral ties while also expressing their intention to strengthen multilateralism and the rules-based global order.

On May 30, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and French President Emmanuel Macron upgraded Singapore and France's bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership— Singapore's first comprehensive strategic partnership with a European country, according to PM Wong.

During the meeting, both leaders also witnessed the exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in areas including defence, economy, technologies, and energy and sustainability, among others.

Multilateralism and rules-based global order

"France is a long-standing partner of ASEAN, and we welcome its strong interest to step up engagement [in] our region," PM Wong said, addressing the press.

He said that the exchange of these agreements attests to the "deep and significant levels of trust that have been established between both countries".

"Between France and Singapore, we have many common areas of interest," PM Wong said.

For instance, both countries "believe deeply in multilateralism and the rules-based global order".

"We know that this global order is shifting," PM Wong said.

"No one knows what the new order will be in the coming years. So we are in a period of transition, and in this period of transition, it's important that like-minded countries work together to put in place the outlines and the pillars of a new order that will ensure stability and continue shared prosperity for countries around the world."

Whole world order basis

Addressing the press, Macron said that France "believes in a whole world order basis, and we believe in open trade, and we believe in this liberty of sovereignty".

"I think we have quite [a] unique position. And we are very lucid. We are not part of this superpower. We are neither China nor the U.S.," said Macron.

"We want to cooperate with both as far as we can, and we can cooperate for growth and prosperity and stability for our people in the world order," which Macron said, is the "same view as a lot of countries and a lot of people [in] this region".

A region that is not dominated by any single power

"Singapore and Asean's view is that we want to have an open and inclusive region in Asia. We want a region that is not dominated by any single power," PM Wong stressed.

"The bilateral initiatives that we have between Singapore and France can be a pathfinder for Europe and Asean to do more together as well," PM Wong added.

"And by having these additional links for all the major powers to have stakes in Southeast Asia and Asia to work together to find win-win arrangements, we believe this structured configuration makes for a stabler configuration in Asia. It will reduce the chances of conflict, and it will maximise the likelihood for continued peace and shared prosperity among all the parties."

State visit

Macron is currently on a state visit to Singapore from May 29 to 30, 2025.

This is part of his week-long three-nation Southeast Asia trip.

Macron will also deliver the keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 30.

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Top image via Lawrence Wong/Facebook