S'pore, Sweden share commitment to fair, just world order: President Tharman

The two nations are partners in many areas, and have strong economic ties, he says

- Tay Hong Yi

The commitment to a world order based on fair and just rules, which is shared by Singapore and Sweden as small states, matters more than ever amid deepening divides and global uncertainty.

"Sweden has consistently punched above its weight in meeting the challenges of the global commons," said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Nov 19.

He was speaking at the state banquet that he and his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, hosted in honour of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Jubilee Ballroom of Raffles Hotel.

The King is in town for a three-day state visit till Nov 21 with a wide-ranging agenda that includes laying the ground for greater defence cooperation, trade promotion and knowledge exchange.

President Tharman said that both Singapore and Sweden are partners in many areas, ranging from defence to education and culture, and have especially strong economic ties.

These ties are borne out by the strong presence of Swedish companies that use the Republic as a regional base, as well as business opportunities that Singapore companies have seized in Sweden, he said.

He cited the example of a joint venture between Singapore's ComfortDelGro and the UK-headquartered Go-Ahead Group that recently won an 11-year contract to operate the metro system in the Swedish capital Stockholm.

Sweden is advancing international understanding and action on some of humanity's most pressing issues, which Singapore also pushes for through advancing international agreements.

These issues range from advancing peace and security to building a more sustainable world, he said.

For instance, both countries share a close defence relationship, particularly between their navies.