Thailand and Singapore have agreed to strengthen their strategic partnership, focusing on four areas: energy and food security, the economy and digital cooperation, defense and security, and regional coordination.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made the announcement Wednesday after the fifth Thailand-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat in Bangkok, the first such meeting in 11 years.
The two leaders welcomed a joint statement outlining the future direction of bilateral ties and witnessed the signing of an MoU on social development cooperation.
Four more agreements are planned on the digital economy, transnational crime, food security and supply chain resilience.
The countries will expand cooperation on clean energy, carbon credits, hydrogen and the ASEAN Power Grid. Thailand will also supply Singapore with 100,000 tonnes of Thai rice over five years.
Economic cooperation will focus on trade, investment, semiconductors, digital industries, green industries, logistics, AI and high-skilled workers. Singapore also supports Thailand’s bid to join the OECD.
The two sides will strengthen defense and cybersecurity cooperation and step up efforts to combat online and transnational crime.
Thailand will support Singapore’s ASEAN chairmanship next year and work to ensure continuity between their consecutive terms as ASEAN chair.
On Myanmar, Anutin said Thailand would work with Singapore and Myanmar to support positive developments through calibrated re-engagement, while helping ASEAN’s efforts to promote peace.
On Cambodia, Anutin said Thailand remained committed to resolving differences peacefully through existing bilateral mechanisms.
Wong said the talks reaffirmed the strength of the Thailand-Singapore partnership and set a forward-looking agenda for cooperation that could bring tangible benefits to people in both countries.