[SINGAPORE] Aviation and maritime, quantum computing and civil nuclear energy are among the new areas in which Singapore and France will cooperate, as they upgrade their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) – the highest possible tier of cooperation.
Besides these shared interests, both countries also believe deeply in multilateralism, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, highlighting the need to work together for a new multilateral order.
He also welcomed greater French engagement in the region, noting its standing as a Pacific power.
This is Singapore’s first CSP with a European country. In 2012, France was also the first European country with which Singapore established a Strategic Partnership.
PM Wong and French President Emmanuel Macron announced the much-anticipated upgrade on Friday (May 30), during the French leader’s two-day visit to Singapore that began on Thursday. It comes as Singapore and France mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.
Both leaders also witnessed the exchange of 13 agreements under the framework of the CSP.
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“In today’s uncertain world, it is even more important for like-minded countries like France and Singapore to work together,” said PM Wong.
He laid out five areas in which the CSP will deepen the two countries’ longstanding relationship: defence; the economy; emerging and frontier technologies; energy and sustainability; and people-to-people exchanges.
First, defence has always been a pillar of the bilateral relationship, said PM Wong. France hosts Singapore’s air force in Cazaux Air Base, and Singapore supports French military deployments in the Asia-Pacific.
The countries will enhance cooperation in areas such as deployments and defence technology. They will also reinforce security cooperation, including by establishing a senior officials’ dialogue.
Second, more will be done to boost economic cooperation and connectivity by leveraging an existing digital and green partnership, and two new agreements on aviation and maritime transport.
Third, on emerging and frontier technologies, Singapore and France has expanded cooperation over the years, with new areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum. They will deepen digital cooperation and expand research collaboration through the Joint Committee on Science and Innovation.
Fourth, the two countries will build on already “robust exchanges” in energy and sustainability, with two new agreements on civil nuclear energy cooperation. These will help Singapore explore using nuclear energy by tapping French expertise, PM Wong said.
Finally, on people-to-people exchanges, PM Wong noted an increasing French presence in Singapore and vice versa. Under the CSP, both countries will strengthen collaboration between institutes of higher learning, in technical and vocational training, and in the arts and culture.
Beyond bilateral
Beyond those common interests, Singapore and France both believe deeply in multilateralism and the rules-based global order, said PM Wong.
He was replying to a question about what France and Singapore expect from each other in a “world of shifting alliances” – a phrase he used at the swearing-in of the Cabinet last week.
While countries engage each other to advance national interests, they can also find common ground, said PM Wong. Singapore “will always be a steadfast supporter to advance these areas of shared interest together, in order to achieve win-win outcomes”.
Beyond that, France and Singapore can work together to build a new multilateralism, he added.
“It is important that like-minded countries work together to put in place the outlines and the pillars of a new order that will ensure stability and continued shared prosperity for countries around the world.”
France in the region
Both leaders were also asked about the role that France can play in Asia.
On whether France may be a “third force and alternative” in South-east Asia amid the US-China contestation, Macron noted that France and Europe are working to strengthen their strategic autonomy.
Furthermore, France is an Indo-Pacific power, he added. In the region, it has overseas territories with a million inhabitants, a significant military presence, and common exercises and partnerships with regional countries.
France does not want to depend on either superpower, but rather seeks to cooperate with both, Macron said.
Singapore and Asean want an open, inclusive region that is not dominated by any single partner, said PM Wong, welcoming France’s enhanced engagement of South-east Asia.
He noted that Macron has made multiple stops in South-east Asia before arriving in Singapore, and that he would be the first European leader to speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday evening.
France can lead the way for the rest of Europe to engage with South-east Asia, he added, in areas ranging from defence and security to the economy and energy.
“So the bilateral initiative that we have between Singapore and France can be a pathfinder for Europe and Asean to do more together as well.”
