PM Lee Hsien Loong for the Joint Press Conference with Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull

Mr Turnbull, Ministers, ladies and gentlemen from the press.

I would like to welcome PM Turnbull to Singapore for his first Official Visit. Reciprocating his warm hospitality for my visit to Canberra last October. This visit is the second annual Singapore-Australia Leaders’ Summit under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership or CSP. We had very good discussions this morning on a wide range of issues regional and economic. We exchanged views on developments in the United States, in Europe, and Asia, as well as our concerns over the recent terrorist attacks in the West and in our part of the world.

Singapore and Australia are both outward oriented and trade-dependent countries. We want a peaceful and orderly world, and an open and inclusive international system where countries big and small can prosper. That is why we are both friends with all major powers.

The breadth and depth of our cooperation reflects our enduring, substantial, and warm partnership.

PM Lee Hsien Loong

We see the United States continuing to play a major role, fostering peace and stability in Asia. We also welcome China’s engagement in the region. Because for both Singapore and Australia, China is our largest trading partner. Constructive initiatives such as the One Belt, One Road can promote greater regional cooperation and development.

The strategic alignment between Singapore and Australia is why we work closely on regional trade initiatives like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP. Mr Turnbull took the lead in resuming TPP talks among the remaining 11 members after the US withdrew from the TPP. It shows Australia’s continued commitment to regional cooperation and to free trade. Singapore agrees with and supports the TPP-11 deal.

Mr Turnbull and I also agreed on the importance of ASEAN centrality and an open and inclusive regional architecture. We welcome Australia’s continued engagement with ASEAN and participation in the East Asia Summit. Next year, Singapore is ASEAN Chair. And we look forward to the Special ASEAN-Australia Summit which will be in Sydney in March.

Last October in Canberra, we signed significant agreements on economic integration, defence cooperation and innovation. I am happy that since then we have made progress. The upgraded Singapore – Australia Free Trade Agreement will come into force this year.

We are making progress in the joint development of the military training areas in Queensland. We deeply appreciate Australia’s continued support for Singapore’s Armed Forces’ training needs which will benefit both defence forces, and the local economy in the towns where these happen. We look forward to this arrangement being finalised in a Treaty next year.

Today, we just witnessed two agreements signed on new areas of collaboration. On innovation, to increase collaboration and joint funding to promote Advanced Manufacturing and Data Science to address challenges of future economies. On Cybersecurity, to build on existing cooperation to combat cyber threats and support regional capacity building. These are good, new initiatives. We also have lighter initiatives, cooperation in the arts. The Australia-Singapore Arts Group has been doing good work, boosting arts and cultural exchanges. I am looking forward to opening the Erub Arts Exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum with Mr Turnbull tomorrow.

The breadth and depth of our cooperation reflects our enduring, substantial, and warm partnership. I thank Prime Minister Turnbull and Australia for their strong support for our cooperation and friendship.

Thank you very much.

. . . .