A challenging year for Foreign Affairs: says Mr Shanmugam
Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam described this year as a challenging one for his ministry, against the backdrop of an increasingly complicated and uncertain world.
File photo: Minister for Law K Shanmugam
SINGAPORE: Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam described this year as a challenging one for his ministry, against the backdrop of an increasingly complicated and uncertain world.
Speaking in Parliament during the Foreign Affairs Ministry's Committee of Supply Debate, Mr Shanmugam though stressed that the ministry is confident of managing the challenges.
He said bilateral relationships with key partners are strong and relations with immediate neighbours are "on a firm footing".
He pointed to the resolution of the long-standing Points of Agreement (POA) issue between Malaysia and Singapore, which he said, puts both countries on an "even more positive and forward looking trajectory".
This year, both sides will work towards promoting the twinning of manufacturing activities between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia, the main southern development corridor in Johor.
Both sides will also embark on further cooperation in various sectors like tourism, education, immigration and environment.
Mr Shanmugam said: "Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Najib Razak had a very good Leaders' Retreat in Putrajaya on January 5 this year. Both sides agreed to explore several new, mutually-beneficial initiatives to advance economic cooperation, enhance connectivity, and deepen people-to-people ties. This year, the newly-established high-level work group on industrial cooperation will consider ways of promoting the twinning of manufacturing activities between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia."
As for relations with Indonesia, Mr Shanmugam revealed that both Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will meet on March 13 for a Leaders' Retreat.
The retreat will review progress on bilateral relations, including economic and counter-terrorism cooperation.
As part of efforts to strengthen links with Indonesian provinces, Mr Shanmugam also announced the set up of a Consulate in Medan.
"Overall, we are enjoying a period of optimism and growth in our bilateral ties with both Malaysia and Indonesia," he said.
On Myanmar, Mr Shanmugam said Singapore is encouraged by the positive developments there.
While the Myanmar government has taken positive steps in its transition to democracy, Mr Shanmugam said the country still faces many challenges, such as capacity building and economic reforms.
He urged countries to consider lifting their economic sanctions on Myanmar and provide support in capacity building.
"Singapore has always taken the position that Myanmar needs to be constructively engaged," said Mr Shanmugam.
Under the Singapore-Myanmar Technical Cooperation Programme, Singapore will continue to share its developmental expertise.
This includes providing training to Myanmar in economic and human resource development as well as public administration.
Mr Shanmugam added in view of the positive developments in Myanmar, Singapore and the other ASEAN countries supported Myanmar's bid for the 2014 ASEAN Chairmanship.
He said the Chairmanship presents an opportunity for Myanmar to build on its current momentum of reforms and as ASEAN Chair, Myanmar will be the external face of the grouping.
"It will have to defend not only its own interests and record, but also ASEAN's interests. Myanmar will also have to reassure our external partners that under its Chairmanship, ASEAN will continue to make progress towards an ASEAN Community in 2015. The world will of course be watching," said Mr Shanmugam.
On relations with the US, Mr Shanmugam pointed to his recent introductory visit to the country in February where both sides underscored the "breadth and depth" of bilateral relations.
On China, Mr Shanmugam described relations as "excellent", anchored by a steady exchange of high-level visits, strengthened economic links and growing people-to-people exchanges.
Both sides are also working on new areas of collaboration. They include a partnership among the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Zhejiang University as well as the establishment of the China Cultural Centre in Singapore.
