'Our future security & prosperity lies in Asia': PM Wong & Australia PM Albanese launch upgraded S'pore partnership

Singapore and Australia's futures lie in Asia, which makes shaping the architecture for cooperation in the region is necessary, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Oct. 8.

In a joint press conference in the capital city of Canberra, PM Wong and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed to an upgraded Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP 2.0), the first iteration of which has just reached its 10th year.

Enhanced partnership

The existing partnership "has delivered real and tangible benefits for both countries", PM Wong said, including establishing more than 110 initiatives and a significant flow of two-way travel even in disruptive times like the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among others, the new partnership will see an improved security cooperation through the signing of an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

This means both militaries will have greater reciprocal access to facilities and deepened cooperation in defence science, technology, logistics and supply chains.

Both countries will also cooperate in cyber, digital and artificial intelligence (AI) spaces, enhance the existing green partnership and strengthen economic connectivity, PM Wong said.

"Both Australia and Singapore recognise that our future security and prosperity lies in Asia," he added.

"That means we will have to work together to shape the architecture for cooperation in our region."

Singapore and Australia will also cooperate under a new Third Country Training Programme to roll out capacity-building programmes for Asean countries, including the soon-to-be newest member Timor-Leste.

Introductory visit

PM Wong is currently on an introductory visit to Australia from Oct. 6 to Oct. 9.

PM Wong was accompanied by his wife, Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Members of Parliament Nadia Ahmad Samdin and Victor Lye and other officials.

He will next visit neighbouring country New Zealand from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11.

The trip also commemorates 60 years of diplomatic ties between Singapore and Australia, who was among the first countries to recognise Singapore's independence in 1965.

Top image via Lawrence Wong/Facebook