India and Singapore upgraded bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership as PM Narendra Modi held talks with his counterpart Lawrence Wong to boost cooperation in a range of areas from advanced manufacturing and digitalisation to skills and healthcare.
Four MoUs were signed, including one for establishing a semiconductor ecosystem partnership that was hailed as a major takeaway from Modi’s first visit to the country in six years.
Amid growing concerns over Chinese assertiveness, the leaders also reaffirmed in a joint statement the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea (SCS). Agreeing that regional security and stability was essential for the growth of both nations, they called for pursuing peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS, without resorting to the threat or use of force.
Probably for the first time, an India-Singapore joint statement specifically mentioned not just SCS but also Quad as both nations welcomed Quad’s support for Asean centrality, including its agenda to support priorities and needs of countries in the Indo-Pacific region, and explored synergies for mutually beneficial cooperation.
India and Singapore are looking to enhance bilateral cooperation through advanced manufacturing, with focus on semiconductors. Modi and Wong also visited AEM, a leading Singapore company in semiconductor and electronics sector.
India, Brunei to boost cooperation in defence, space etc
India and Brunei agreed to boost cooperation in defence, space, trade and investment, food security and in several other areas, as PM Modi held bilateral talks with Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah during his two-day visit to the southeast Asian country.
Modi told the Sultan that India follows a policy of development and not expansionism, as he underlined India’s support for freedom of navigation and overflight under international laws like UNCLOS, while also calling for finalisation of the code of conduct under discussion for the region.
“Brunei is an important partner in India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision. India has always given priority to Asean Centrality and will continue to do so,” said Modi, announcing that the two sides had decided to commemorate relations as ‘Enhanced Partnership’.
Brunei is among the Asean countries that have overlapping maritime claims with China in South China Sea, although it has been largely non-confrontational about it. “Both leaders reiterated their commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, as well as respecting freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce, consistent with international law, notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982,” said a joint statement.
Both leaders recognised the importance of food security and agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture , according to the joint statement. They welcomed the planned direct flight connectivity between Bandar Seri Begawan and Chennai which will foster stronger people-to people linkages and facilitate trade and tourism.
