PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday vowed to expand the country’s strong trade and investment relations with the Singaporean government after receiving the credentials of Singapore Ambassador See Sin Yuan at Malacanang.
See bared plans to explore new areas of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, with focus on sustainability and energy.
Marcos said the Philippines country shares a deep-rooted history of collaboration and cooperation with Singapore in various areas of mutual interest, adding bilateral relations between the two countries have flourished over the past five decades, encompassing trade and investment, defense and security, education, and cultural exchanges.
“As co-founders of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), we are partners in advancing key issues in regional and international fora, cognizant of the importance of maintaining Asean centrality amidst the shifting winds of geopolitics and great power rivalries,” he said.
The President also said the “active bilateral ties” have been further bolstered by the successful State Visit of President Halimah Yacob to the Philippines in 2019 in line with the golden jubilee celebration of the diplomatic ties between the two nations.
“Our economic ties are robust, as Singapore remains as one of the Philippines’ most important trade and investment partners. In 2022, our total bilateral trade reached USD 13 billion. In addition, Singapore was our largest source of approved investments amounting to USD 2.4 billion in 2022,” Marcos said.
He emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral partnerships between the Philippines and Singapore during this period of transition in the global economy.
“As we go through this transition period where we have to adjust to the new global economy, we still look at Singapore to be our very strong partner,” he said.
In terms of defense and security, the President noted the Philippines’ engagements with Singapore in combating terrorism and national crimes which also have been further strengthened in the past years.
He said it was under his administration that Singapore and the Philippines signed two agreements concerning the Regional Counter-Terrorism Information Facility (CTIF) and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
“Our increasing people-to-people ties continue to strengthen our bridges of understanding and friendship through cultural exchanges and capacity-building programs,” Marcos added.
The Singaporean envoy said the state visits by the two nations’ leaders were key to strengthening their relations.
“I think the state visit gave a lot of momentum to our cooperation including in the emerging areas like fintech (financial technology), sustainability and energy as well. So, we’re keen to move forward on all these,” See said.
“You might also know that we are enhancing our defense cooperation. Just last weekend the arrangement on the conduct of education, training, assistance and support…on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. So, we are extremely happy at the state of our relationship and my brief stay here is really to continue to bolster the trade and investment as you mentioned including in emerging areas and to look for other areas of cooperation. We want to be partners. We are invested in the Philippines,” she added.
Diplomatic ties between the two countries were established in 1969 and will celebrate their 55th anniversary in 2024.
Before her meeting with the President, the Ambassador was accorded arrival honors and signed the guestbook at Malacañan Palace.
Also present during the event were Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau, and Acting Director Charles Lawrence Ching.
Prior to her deployment in the Philippines, she served as the director-general of the Southeast Asia II Directorate at Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
She also previously served as deputy trade representative and minister-counselor in the Singapore Trade Office.
She is a graduate of the National University of Singapore and has a Master’s degree in Strategy and War Studies from King’s College from the University of London in the United Kingdom.
