Speech by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the State Lunch hosted by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove And Lady Lynne Cosgrove, 16 June 2014

Your Excellency Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove

Lady Lynne Cosgrove

Excellencies

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like to thank Your Excellency and Lady Cosgrove for hosting us today. My wife and I are delighted to be here in Australia.  We have many fond memories of Australia where we spent three happy years when I was a post-graduate student at the University of Adelaide.  

Australia and Singapore are close friends and longstanding partners. As Singapore celebrates the 50^th anniversary of our independence next year, we will also commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Australia.

Australia was amongst the first countries to recognise Singapore’s independence in 1965.  Our relationship in fact goes back to before Singapore’s independence.  Later today, I will visit the Australian War Memorial, which stands as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by Australian troops in the defence of Singapore during World War II.  This is an indelible part of our shared history, and has contributed to the high level of comfort and familiarity we have with one another.

Our many common interests have led to wide-ranging cooperation over the years.  Since the signing of the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) in 2003, our bilateral trade and investment ties have flourished.   As proponents of trade liberalisation, both our countries have worked closely together at multilateral fora to promote regional free trade.

Having once been Singapore’s Minister for Defence, I am well acquainted with Australia’s generosity in hosting the Singapore Armed Forces’ training facilities. I look forward to my visit to Pearce Airbase in Western Australia later this week.  Our forces have served together in Afghanistan, and before that in East Timor, where your Excellency, in your former military role, had so ably led the international peacekeeping force from 1999 to 2000. For your tireless work as Australia’s Chief of Defence Force in fostering closer ties between our respective armed forces, Singapore conferred on you our Distinguished Service Order (Military) in 2004.

Our close people-to-people ties bear testimony to our increasing inter-connectedness. Australia is host to one of Singapore’s largest overseas populations, which numbers about 50,000, including 6,400 students. At the same time, more than 20,000 Australians currently live and work in Singapore.

Australia remains a popular choice for Singapore students who wish to pursue higher education.  In the early years after Singapore’s independence, many Singaporeans came to Australia as beneficiaries of the Colombo Plan. 

Now, Australian students are coming to Singapore as part of our participation in the pilot programme of the New Colombo Plan.  The New Colombo Plan is an important demonstration of Australia’s commitment to better understand and engage Asia. We are delighted to partner Australia in this endeavour.  

Your Excellency, our bilateral relations are a part of Australia’s wider network of links with the region.  Australia is an integral part of the region and its architecture. This year, we celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations between ASEAN and Australia.  As ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner, Australia has played an important role in promoting regional stability and prosperity.

On the global stage, Australia continues to serve with distinction as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Australia is also chair of the G20. Singapore is honoured to have been invited to the G20 Summit in Brisbane later this year as Australia’s guest.

For the past few decades, the US presence in Asia has underpinned regional stability, which in turn allowed many countries, including Singapore and Australia, to grow and prosper. Our two countries recognise the importance of continued US engagement in the region, as well as the fact that the US-China relationship will shape the regional environment.

This strategic convergence underpins the close relationship that Singapore shares with Australia, which has grown deeper over the years. We have worked closely and effectively together in fora such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the East Asia Summit (EAS).  I am confident that we will enhance our partnership and together make a positive contribution towards progress in the Asia-Pacific.

Your Excellency, once again, thank you for the warm reception extended to me and my delegation. My wife and I look forward to receiving you and Lady Cosgrove on a State Visit to Singapore soon so that we can reciprocate your hospitality and keep up the momentum in bilateral relations between our two countries.