Singapore and Thailand reaffirmed their close partnership and explored new areas of collaboration during Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s one-day visit to Bangkok. At a joint press conference with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Mr. Wong highlighted key areas for deeper cooperation, including the green economy, food security, and digital connectivity.
Both leaders expressed optimism about strengthening bilateral ties as they also prepare to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2024.
The green economy emerged as a focal point of discussions, with Mr. Wong emphasizing the opportunities for collaboration in carbon credits. Thailand’s push for green energy production, including hydrogen and biofuels, aligns with Singapore’s interest in enhancing sustainability.
“We can work towards an implementation agreement on carbon credits collaboration, which will open up new opportunities for our companies,” Mr. Wong said.
Carbon credit initiatives allow businesses to offset their emissions by investing in projects that reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Such an agreement could pave the way for both countries to meet their sustainability goals while creating new business opportunities in the green sector.
Ms. Paetongtarn reiterated Thailand’s commitment to renewable energy and sustainability, reflecting her government’s broader priorities in green development.
Food security remains another key area of cooperation. Acknowledging Singapore’s reliance on imports for most of its food needs, Mr. Wong praised Thailand’s willingness to bolster the city-state’s food supply chain.
Ms. Paetongtarn announced plans to increase exports of premium rice and organic eggs to Singapore, addressing both quality and supply concerns.
“This is also important for Singapore, as we import most of what we consume, and we are continually looking to enhance our food security,” Mr. Wong said.
Both leaders recalled earlier discussions on food security during the ASEAN summit in Laos last month, where Ms. Paetongtarn outlined her priorities.
In a move to deepen people-to-people ties, Mr. Wong announced scholarships for Thai civil servants to pursue master’s degrees at Singaporean universities. This initiative builds upon a long-standing exchange program between the two civil services.
“This exchange will facilitate even more mutual learning and sharing of best practices between our officials, as well as those from ASEAN and beyond,” Mr. Wong said.
The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalized this arrangement, with Mr. Piyawat Sivaraks, Secretary-General of Thailand’s Office of the Civil Service Commission, and Mr. Albert Chua, Permanent Secretary of Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, representing their respective countries.
Ms. Paetongtarn expressed her gratitude for Singapore’s support in capacity-building initiatives, which she said will benefit Thailand’s civil service and beyond.
The leaders also underscored the importance of digital connectivity and financial collaboration in driving economic growth. Mr. Wong pointed to the success of the PayNow-PromptPay cross-border payment system launched in 2021, which allows users in both countries to make real-time transactions seamlessly.
“This is a pioneering example of digital finance collaboration, and we should continue to build on this success,” he said.
Additionally, the depository receipts linkage, launched in May 2022, has enabled investors to trade stocks listed on each other’s exchanges, enhancing financial integration in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Wong reaffirmed Singapore’s support for Thailand’s leadership as chair of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which aims to deepen regional digital integration.
Energy integration was another area of focus, with Mr. Wong emphasizing the importance of the ASEAN power grid. He highlighted the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project as a key example of cross-border energy collaboration.
Singapore currently imports renewable energy through this initiative, and Mr. Wong expressed hope for Thailand’s support in expanding the project’s scope.
“This will form the building block for a broader ASEAN power grid, which can help to strengthen our energy resilience and sustainability,” he said.
The strong people-to-people ties between Singapore and Thailand were a recurring theme during Mr. Wong’s visit. He acknowledged the popularity of Thailand as a travel destination for Singaporeans, many of whom frequent Bangkok for its vibrant food scene and shopping options.
Cultural exchanges have also flourished, with a Thai music festival held in Singapore earlier this year and a contemporary Thai art showcase scheduled at the Singapore Art Museum next month.
Looking ahead to 2024, the two countries are preparing to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations with a series of high-level exchanges. Ms. Paetongtarn confirmed her visit to Singapore next year, along with other significant events, including a visit by Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in January and a planned official visit by Singapore’s President.
Mr. Wong expressed enthusiasm for hosting Ms. Paetongtarn and her husband in Singapore, emphasizing the importance of these exchanges in deepening bilateral ties.
Concluding his visit, Mr. Wong was scheduled to have a royal audience with King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida. The meeting underscores the strong ties between the two nations at the highest levels of government and society.
Throughout his visit, Mr. Wong underscored the need for stronger regional integration to maximize ASEAN’s economic potential. He called for accelerated efforts to integrate ASEAN economies, highlighting the region’s diverse markets, youthful population, and potential as a global growth hub.
“ASEAN has tremendous potential to be a key centre of economic growth for our region,” he said.
With shared commitments to sustainability, food security, and digital innovation, Singapore and Thailand are poised to set an example of bilateral cooperation within the broader ASEAN framework.
