Singapore PM optimistic on ties with India

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, JUNE 2. The Singapore Prime Minister, Mr. Goh Chok Tong, today struck a positive note on the prospects of the City- State's relations with India, while holding talks here with the visiting External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh.

The two leaders exchanged views on how best to fulfillment of the promise of bilateral ties. They also surveyed the current situation in countries including, in particular, Sri Lanka, Fiji and Indonesia, according to a senior Singapore official.

The possibility of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in spheres such as environmental protection, fight against maritime piracy, drug-trafficking and terrorism was also discussed.

On Mr. Singh's visit to Singapore at ``this stage despite India's pressing foreign policy concerns'', Mr. Ong Keng Yong, Press Secretary to the Singapore Prime Minister, said that it was a ``big plus'' in fostering bilateral ties, as Mr. Singh would be exchanging ideas with all the principal players across the entire political spectrum of Singapore.

Asked whether the scope for India's participation in the meetings of the elite economic grouping of `the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three' (namely Japan, China and South Korea) was discussed, the official indicated that India expressed interest in strengthening ties with the ASEAN.

Delivering a public lecture prior to the talks with Mr. Goh, Mr. Singh pointed to a commonality between India and Singapore in the unfolding era of a new globalised economy. Mr. Singh observed that ``India has shown, like Singapore, that it is well-placed to take advantage of the knowledge-based industries of which the Information Technology-driven new economy is the current leader.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : 'Japan's stand on aid to India unchanged'
Next     : Sharif case: plea for death penalty admitted