President Tharman, PM Wong congratulate India’s leaders on 76th Republic Day
In a show of solidarity and mutual respect, Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong extended their warmest congratulations to India on its 76th Republic Day. This significant gesture underscores the strong bilateral relations between the two nations, as communicated by Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 26.
Both leaders reached out to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with heartfelt letters, reaffirming the profound relationship that ties Singapore and India. As the Indian nation commemorates this important milestone with cultural parades and military exhibitions featuring Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as the guest of honour, Singapore looks forward to enhancing this partnership.
President Tharman, in his letter to President Murmu, emphasized the substantial development that the two countries have experienced over the years. He fondly recollected his recent state visit to Odisha in early January, celebrating six decades of diplomatic relations between Singapore and India. During his correspondence, President Tharman highlighted the collaborative efforts between governments and enterprises of both nations, focusing on skills development, semiconductor initiatives, industrial parks, connectivity enhancements, and renewable energy projects.
Furthermore, Tharman suggested expanding cooperative endeavors at the state level, particularly in India’s eastern regions, which are poised as emerging growth drivers. He asserted Singapore’s belief in India’s promising future, pledging continued support and investment in areas of mutual interest, with aspirations for sustained long-term partnership.
Prime Minister Wong echoed similar sentiments in his letter to Prime Minister Modi. He applauded India’s impressive transformation, having ascended to become the world’s fifth-largest economy and anticipated to climb further in the global rankings. Wong specifically acknowledged India’s continuous involvement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the country’s vital role in maintaining regional peace, prosperity, and stability.
The prime minister also highlighted the substantial advancements in relations between ASEAN and India, expressing optimism about expanding this partnership, especially in innovative domains like digital technology and green economy initiatives. The cooperation between Singapore and India has flourished in several areas, including trade, finance, education, and defense. This collaboration is bolstered through platforms such as the Ministerial Roundtable, promoting joint ventures in sustainability, digitalisation, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity.
Wong reflected on the key initiatives being rolled out following discussions during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Singapore, scheduled for September 2024, citing the ongoing implementation of measures in semiconductor ecosystems and industrial park development. “I am confident that our partnership will continue to grow from strength to strength,” asserted Wong, reinforcing the commitment to fostering ever-closer ties.
Leave a Reply