SINGAPORE-SAUDI ARABIA ESTABLISH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL TO ENHANCE COOPERATION

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz

SINGAPORE, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Singapore and Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday to establish the Saudi-Singapore Strategic Partnership Council which aims to enhance cooperation in various areas.

The MoU was inked by both countries’ Foreign Ministers, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, in Singapore, as part of the latter’s two-day working visit here.

Balakrishnan said the strategic partnership, announced during then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2023, is an important milestone in the relationship between the two nations.

According to the minister, it is Singapore’s first-ever strategic partnership with a Middle Eastern country, also Saudi Arabia’s first in Southeast Asia.

“With the launch of the Saudi-Singapore Strategic Partnership Council, our Heads of Government will meet regularly and chart strategic directions to grow our bilateral cooperation,” he said in a joint press remarks.

Balakrishnan stated that under the council, which will be co-chaired by Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman, the countries will establish several committees at the ministerial level and aim to strengthen cooperation in political, economic, defence, security, and people-to-people relations.

“The strengthening of these ties with Saudi Arabia is most timely. At the political level, we have maintained very close ties and we have been constantly searching for ways to deepen our cooperation,” he said.

The minister also expressed Singapore’s request to increase its haj quota, which would allow more Singaporean Muslims to fulfil their religious obligations. Currently, the quota stands at 900.

On Gaza conflict, the minister noted that Saudi Arabia has played a very important role in rallying the international community to find a resolution to the conflict.

“We hope that the ceasefire can be achieved as soon as possible, that there will be an immediate release of all hostages, and that aid can be delivered effectively to all the civilians in Gaza as quickly as possible,” Balakrishnan said.

Meanwhile, Prince Faisal said that the Strategic Partnership Council presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaboration and partnership across a range of sectors, particularly in relation to the initiatives outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

He said Saudi Arabia is committed to strengthen economic and investment relations with Singapore.

“Singapore is one of the most important financial hubs in the world. We will continue to strive to seize new opportunities to achieve greater economic benefits in consistency with the capabilities of our two countries and in alignment with our shared interests,” he noted.

-- BERNAMA