Thailand, Singapore strengthen cooperation in new areas

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong. (Photo: Courtesy of Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry)

Food security, energy security, the green economy, and digital connectivity were among the main topics that the two leaders discussed.

Thai Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said that at the November 28 talks, Thailand expressed its readiness to help Singapore boost its food security by exporting premium rice and organic eggs to the neighbour.

The two leaders also discussed human resources development and educational exchanges to boost upskilling and reskilling for their respective workers.

Jirayu said Singaporean PM Wong emphasised the strong trade and investment linkages between the two countries, and their defence establishments also enjoy close and longstanding cooperation.

Regarding digital finance, both countries are pioneers in digital finance as they set up the PayNow-PromptPay linkage back in 2021. It was the world's first instant cross-border payment system.

Wong said that both Singapore and Thailand have launched the first Depository Receipts Linkage in ASEAN between their stock exchanges. This allows stocks to be traded on each other's stock exchange.

The two countries aim to build on this close connectivity to expand to new areas of cooperation including green economy, he added.

The Singaporean PM made his first official visit to Thailand on November 28 following his assumption of the post in May. He is the first foreign government leader that the Thai PM Paetongtarn welcomed in Bangkok since she took the office in August. The visit is of great significance to both sides in the context that Thailand and Singapore will celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year./.