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.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 20, 2022-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 20, 2022-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
‘I'LL WIN SOMEWHERE ELSE’
Ten Hag sends warning to United, who will review season and his future this week
MBAPPE LEAVES PSG ON A HIGH
Ligue champs complete domestic double with 2-1 win over Lyon in French Cup final
‘SO UNBELIEVABLE’ FOR LECLERC
Ferrari driver wins home Monaco GP for the first time amid collision drama
KOK HAS HIS RED-LETTER DAY
After lean spell and four-month working holiday, top jockey finally salutes again
Keppel makes big strides in sustainability after exiting oil-rig business
Green moves deliver cost savings of about 95m in 2023 for asset owners and operators
China has a plan for its housing crisis, but it’s not enough
Beijing has bigger problem lurking behind millions of empty apartments, say experts
First batch of design and Al students graduating from SUTD; over half have got jobs already
Thirty students from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) will be the first to graduate with a degree in design and artificial intelligence (DAI) on May 28.
Chempaka residents worry about future with IO years left on leases
They hope the trustees managing the land will give them option to top up and stay on
Macron arrives in Germany on State visit to soothe ties
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Berlin on May 26 on the first state visit to Germany by a French president in a quarter of a century, seeking to ease recent tensions and warn of the dangers of the far right ahead of European Union elections.
16 killed, 43 hurt in Russian strike on DIY superstore
Ukrainian President condemns daylight attack on an obviously civilian’ target