Pandemic brought S'pore and NZ closer, say respective PMs

Countries exchanged notes on Covid-19 and helped keep food, trade flowing

- Goh Yan Han

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought Singapore and New Zealand closer together, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.

He and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had called each other regularly to exchange notes on their experiences, PM Lee said, adding that both countries’ ministers and officials also regularly exchange information about the virus.

PM Lee was giving a toast speech at an official lunch for Ms Ardern, who arrived in Singapore on Monday for a three-day visit.

In the early days of the pandemic when many flights were cancelled, both countries helped to bring each other’s citizens home, said PM Lee.

When borders were shut and supply chains disrupted, both sides formed an air freight connectivity partnership to keep food and medical supplies flowing between the two countries.

“In fact, the first such Singapore to New Zealand flight in April 2020 also carried nine New Zealanders back home, including a baby,” said PM Lee.

In May 2020, Singapore and New Zealand also jointly launched a repatriation flight to bring their citizens home from Myanmar.

PM Lee said the strong bilateral cooperation between the countries is anchored on longstanding friendship and trust that have been built up over decades.

“With similar outlooks on trade liberalisation and economic integration, we joined hands on many path-finding economic initiatives,” he said.

Singapore’s first bilateral free trade agreement was with New Zealand, while Singapore was New Zealand’s second bilateral free trade agreement partner after Australia.