Singapore, Germany to work towards strategic partnership

Pledge reaffirmed to step up cooperation in existing and emerging areas

- Chin Soo Fang

BERLIN - Singapore and Germany will work towards upgrading their relations to a strategic partnership, in recognition of the "growing depth and breadth" of bilateral ties.

This was announced by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on April 9, after Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

The leaders took stock of the countries' longstanding and multifaceted bilateral ties, which have strengthened over the decades, MFA said in a statement.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to intensify cooperation in existing and emerging areas, and exchanged views on regional and international issues.

In a social media post, DPM Wong said he was glad to have called on Mr Scholz, and was happy that both sides agreed to work towards upgrading relations to a strategic partnership.

DPM Wong, who Minister, is on an official visit to Germany from April 8 to 10, and France from April 10 to 13.

also Finance France is the only European Union (EU) member state that has a strategic partnership with Singapore. Such partnerships strengthen existing ties and pave the way for new areas of bilateral cooperation.

DPM Wong also called on German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on April 8.