S'pore & Qatar will work towards upgrading relations to Strategic Partnership, cooperate in energy, defence & trade

Singapore and Qatar plan to upgrade their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in an Oct. 19 statement.

It added that both countries agreed to work towards elevating relations in a meeting on the same day with both countries' ministers and senior officials in attendance.

Co-chaired meeting

This comes amid Singapore's Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong's official visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Oct. 18 to 22.

On Oct. 19 in Doha, PM Wong and Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar and its head of state, co-chaired the High-Level Joint Committee's (HLJC) ninth meeting.

This marked the first time that the HLJC was co-chaired by the leaders of both countries in its 20-year history, with both leaders reaffirming the warm and longstanding relations between Singapore and Qatar, the MFA statement added.

At the meeting, the leaders of both countries welcomed the continued growth of bilateral cooperation in areas including trade and investment, energy, and defence, both nations' HLJC said in a joint post-meeting statement.

The statement added that Qatar will become Singapore's second Strategic Partner in the Middle East, with the other being Saudi Arabia.

AI, defence

At the meeting, the leaders welcomed the growing cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation, and emerging technologies.

They also encouraged cooperation among government agencies, research institutions, academia, and the private sector in AI, digital government, cybersecurity, data, innovation, research and development, and emerging technologies.

LNG

According to the joint statement, the leaders welcomed the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between QatarEnergy and the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry of Singapore on Cooperation in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Low-Carbon Technology.

"The MOU underscores both sides' commitment to facilitating stable LNG procurement supply chains and energy security, especially in light of recent market developments," the statement read.

Concern over Middle East situation

At the meeting, the leaders also expressed serious concern over the situation in the Middle East, the HLJC statement noted.

They commended Qatar's sustained diplomatic efforts to facilitate dialogue and de-escalation in the region, emphasising the importance of upholding navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law, in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

It ensures that international shipping, including in the Strait of Hormuz, remains open, safe and secure.

Small states

After arriving in Doha on Oct. 18, PM Wong met Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who hosted him to an official dinner.

On Oct. 19, Emir Sheikh Tamim received PM Wong at Doha's Royal Court, welcoming him with a ceremony and hosting him to lunch.

PM Wong had visited the Qatar Foundation that morning, where he met Vice Chairperson Sheikha Hind Bint Hamad Al Thani and exchanged views on education, research and innovation.

In an Oct. 19 Facebook post, PM Wong said that as "Singapore prepares to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2027, we look forward to deepening ASEAN–Qatar ties, as well as strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)".

He noted that "Singapore and Qatar are both small states navigating an increasingly troubled world".

"We share a strong interest in keeping our economies open, strengthening our resilience, and building a more secure and prosperous future for our peoples," he said.

"His Highness last visited Singapore in 2017, and I look forward to welcoming him back soon!"

The leaders had agreed to convene the 10th HLJC meeting in Singapore at a mutually convenient time, which the joint statement said was to be determined through diplomatic channels.

PM Wong will depart Qatar for the UAE on Oct. 20 for the second leg of his official visits.