Source: MOFA response to false claims by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson regarding Taiwan and its president
[Unofficial Translation]
Your Excellency Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, the people of Singapore,
I am indeed grateful for the warm hospitality extended to me.
It is a great pleasure to make a state visit to Singapore, a key partner of Korea within ASEAN, ahead of next year’s 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
During this visit, I have been able to witness how wholeheartedly Singapore is stepping forward to embrace an even brighter future under Prime Minister Wong’s outstanding leadership.
Singapore and Korea have truly been steadily nurturing the ties of friendship and cooperation over the past half-century – since formally establishing diplomatic ties in 1975.
Despite the disadvantage of having scarce natural resources, our two countries have emerged as global economic powerhouses by cultivating talented human resources and building high-tech and financial hubs.
At the forefront in Asia’s advancement and prosperity, the two nations have established their standing as frontrunners in AI, digital technology, the green economy and other future-oriented sectors.
Today, Prime Minister Wong and I had in-depth discussions on how to further deepen the bonds of friendship and strengthen cooperation between our countries in a forward-looking, mutually beneficial manner.
First, as we prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, we agreed to establish a Strategic Partnership next year – a meaningful first step in preparing for the next half-century.
To this end, our two countries will enhance our strategic cooperation in key areas.
In particular, we will deepen collaboration in the fields of AI and other cutting-edge technologies as well as startups, which will help drive our future growth.
The MOU on Technological Cooperation and MOU on Start-ups and SMEs Cooperation signed today will serve as a driving force.
Moreover, we will enhance R&D collaboration so that we can jointly respond to food crises, pandemics and other global challenges resulting from abnormal climate phenomena.
Second, in response to the growing instability in the global economy, Prime Minister Wong and I agreed to further strengthen concerted efforts on strategic materials and energy supply chains.
In tune with the bilateral Supply Chain Partnership Arrangement signed on this occasion, we agreed to enhance supply chain cooperation in the biohealth, energy and hi-tech industries as well as to jointly respond to supply chain disruptions.
Korea is the world’s third-largest LNG importer, and Singapore is a global LNG trading hub. Accordingly, the MOU on LNG Cooperation signed today will contribute significantly to building a stable international energy supply chain.
Third, Prime Minister Wong and I agreed to strengthen the institutional foundation for bilateral people-to-people exchanges and trade.
We welcomed the boosting of our people-to-people exchanges, with over 900,000 people traveling between our two countries last year. We also agreed to revise the Air Services Agreement, which took effect in 1972, by next year.
In addition, with a shared understanding of the need for synergy to cultivate talented human resources, we agreed to identify projects for cooperation on education utilizing AI and digital technologies.
Moreover, we welcomed the fact that the Extradition Treaty signed on this occasion will enable swift cooperation on investigating, arresting and extraditing fugitive criminals overseas. We agreed to further strengthen bilateral judicial cooperation.
Lastly, Prime Minister Wong and I agreed to work together closely on regional and international issues.
Prime Minister Wong and I shared the view that the international community will never tolerate North Korea’s unlawful nuclear development or reckless provocations. We concurred on the need to work together closely to ensure that the international community sends a clear and unified message to North Korea at the upcoming ASEAN-related Summits.
Prime Minister Wong expressed his full support for upgrading the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue Relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership this year to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Relations.
In this regard, we two leaders agreed to proactively work together toward the successful implementation of the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative.
Over the past half century, Singapore has been a companion to Korea, striving together for national development. Today, Singapore and Korea are key partners as we pioneer a thriving future.
We will make every effort to faithfully implement the matters discussed at today’s summit and thoroughly prepare for next year’s 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude once again to Prime Minister Wong and the government and people of Singapore for the heartwarming welcome and hospitality.
Thank you.