Co-Chairs of the High-Level Russia-Singapore Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko met via videoconference on 20 October 2020. They were joined by the Deputy Co-Chairs of the IGC, Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng and Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichev. The IGC is an annual high-level dialogue aimed at strengthening broad-based cooperation between Russia and Singapore.
SM Tharman and DPM Chernyshenko reaffirmed the multifaceted and growing ties between Singapore and Russia since the IGC’s establishment in 2010. In addition to promoting bilateral trade and investments, the IGC has catalysed greater cooperation in a wider range of sectors, including transport, infrastructure, agriculture, training and education, culture, and legal cooperation. The two Co-Chairs reviewed progress since the 10th Session of the High-Level Russia-Singapore Inter-Governmental Commission, held in Vladivostok, Russia last year, which resulted in the conclusion of six MOUs in the areas of innovation, transportation and logistics, and education and skills training. Both sides also noted the good progress made to establish the Russian Cultural Centre in Singapore, which, once completed, will contribute to greater cultural exchanges and strengthen people-to-people ties between Singapore and Russia.
The Co-Chairs highlighted the importance of further expanding bilateral cooperation, especially as the two economies seek to emerge from COVID-19 and restore growth. Both sides recognised the importance of the Eurasian Economic Union – Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EAEUSFTA), and looked forward to the expeditious completion of the bilateral Services and Investment Agreement between Russia and Singapore. Once completed, the EAEUSFTA will facilitate increased economic exchanges both bilaterally and between the two regions, and lead to stronger ties. They also agreed to actively enhance collaboration in areas such as the digital economy, urban transport management systems and agri-trade.
In closing, the Co-Chairs tasked the relevant government officials with achieving concrete progress in ongoing areas of collaboration ahead of the 11th High Level Russia-Singapore Inter-Governmental Commission in Singapore next year.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
20 OCTOBER 2020
Photo Caption
Clockwise from top left: Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, and Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichev.
Photo Credit
Ministry of Trade and Industry