Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam is currently on a visit to New Zealand from 24 to 26 May 2015.

          During his visit, Minister Shanmugam met the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully.  They reaffirmed the excellent bilateral relations between Singapore and New Zealand, and discussed ways to strengthen the relationship.  Minister Shanmugam welcomed New Zealand’s interest to step up its engagement of ASEAN. The Ministers also had an exchange of views on regional and international developments. 

          Minister McCully hosted a reception in honour of Minister Shanmugam, celebrating 50 years of Singapore’s independence, 50 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and New Zealand, and 40 years of partnership between ASEAN and New Zealand.  The reception was attended by members of the New Zealand Parliament, prominent New Zealanders with links to Singapore, and members of the Singaporean community based in New Zealand.  In his remarks at the reception, Minister Shanmugam highlighted the longstanding friendship between Singapore and New Zealand, underpinned by strong political, economic, defence and people-to-people cooperation.

          Minister Shanmugam separately met the New Zealand Minister of Justice, Courts, Broadcasting and Communications Amy Adams and exchanged views on legal and judicial issues of mutual concern.  Minister Shanmugam also met Leader of the Labour Party Andrew Little and discussed Singapore-New Zealand relations as well as developments in ASEAN and the region.

        Minister Shanmugam returns to Singapore on 26 May 2015. 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

25 MAY 2015 

Minister’s remarks at the reception to commemorate 50 years of Singapore’s independence, the 50^thanniversary of Singapore-New Zealand bilateral relations and the 40^th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand relations at the Parliament Buildings, Wellington on 25 May 2015

Minister of Foreign Affairs The Honourable Murray McCully

Honourable Ministers and Members of Parliament

Distinguished guests

Friends

Kia Ora

1                      I want to thank my good friend and colleague, Murray, for inviting me to New Zealand, and for hosting this reception.   I am pleased to be in “Middle Earth” for my first official visit. 

2                      Singapore and New Zealand celebrate our 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.  New Zealand was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with us after we became independent. New Zealand’s forces remained in Singapore until 1989, long after British forces withdrew in 1971.

3                      Both our countries have helped each other in times of crisis and grief. When the Christchurch earthquake struck in 2011, Singaporeans grieved with New Zealand.  I was then Home Affairs Minister, and I oversaw the deployment of Singapore’s Urban Search and Rescue teams to assist in the recovery.  Christchurch’s restoration since then is testament to the resilience of the New Zealand people.

4                      More recently, New Zealand mourned with Singapore over the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew.  The New Zealand Governor-General attended the State Funeral.  The New Zealand Parliament also adopted a motion to pay tribute to Mr Lee.  We thank New Zealand for the strong show of support.

5                      Singapore and New Zealand share similar world views and interests – the views often look similar when you are small.  We work well together at international organisations like the UN, to ensure voices of small states are heard.  Singapore is pleased to have supported New Zealand’s successful candidature to the UNSC.

6                      Our defence cooperation is robust and long standing.  We appreciate New Zealand’s hosting our troops.  We worked together in East Timor and Afghanistan, and continue to cooperate closely as fellow members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements.

7                      We are also close economic partners.  Singapore’s first bilateral FTA was signed with New Zealand in 2000.  We are now working together on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The TPP is now a different animal – but it started with four: Singapore, New Zealand, Chile and Brunei.

8                      Our people-to-people ties are strong, and tourism numbers continue to strengthen. The recent alliance between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines will further enhance connectivity.

9                      2015 also marks the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand relations.  Two-way trade has grown significantly since the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement came into force.  The people-to-people links are expanding.  Singapore supports New Zealand’s engagement of ASEAN and EAS, and we look forward to the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit in Kuala Lumpur this November.

10                   Singapore and New Zealand have done a lot together in 50 years, and we can do more together.  Singapore can be the hub for New Zealand to Asia and beyond.  Both sides can also explore new areas of cooperation, tapping on each other’s complementary strengths, such as in research and development in food and nutrition.  I am confident that with the support of Murray and our friends here today, we will see further growth and dynamism in our bilateral relations.

11                   Thank you.