Conflicts front of mind on Southeast Asia trip
It is a “very troubled world”, with the potential for a “calamity” without a push for peace, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said during a media conference with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
It followed Luxon’s first bilateral meeting yesterday with Lee, as he prepares for his next leg of the New Zealand delegation’s Southeast Asia trip, with Thailand the next stop.
Luxon said they spoke about global instability, and also instructed officials to launch negotiations “for a ground-breaking agreement to committing New Zealand and Singapore to streamline its essential supplies during times of crisis”.
The prime ministers were asked about the potential for major escalation given rising tensions in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region, and how close they thought a possible world war was.
“I don't think we are close to a world war, I think it's a very troubled world, and in particular, is a very, very troubled Middle East,” Lee said.
“The war in Gaza continues to have repercussions more widely, particularly in the Middle East, but actually with impact on opinions and on politics, in countries around the world.
“Certainly in Europe and America, in this part of the world too ... people are seized with it, they’re very upset by what's happening.”
Lee said as small countries, “we cannot solve the problems in the Middle East”, but instead “you can try and calm things down” and get people talking about peace.
“But if you don't try to do that, then you're saying the only way is the way of the sword and I think that is going to lead to calamity for everybody.“
Luxon urged restraint and de-escalation in the Middle East
“Get into a negotiation and a conversation that actually ultimately leads to a Middle East peace process and ultimately a two state solution,” he said.
On diversifying trade and not being too reliant on on country, such as China, Lee said, “we would like to do business wherever the business is, and China is a very big market”.
“But at the same time, we would all like to enhance our cooperation and our trade with other partners as well.”
Luxon said it was “important we do business with as many people as we possibly can“.
“We have good scaffolding and good architecture in place around trade. Obviously Singapore and New Zealand were, with two others, were the primary instigators of the CPTPP (The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership).
“That’s been something we feel very proud about,” Luxon said.
Greeted with a guard of honour to the grand white walled Istana palace, Luxon and Lee stood together as the national anthems played out across the gardens.
They also agreed to the “strengthening co-operation in the next phase of the relationship under the Singapore-New Zealand Enhanced Partnership and agreed to elevate the relationship by the end of 2025”, Luxon said.
Part of that was streamlining the flow of critical supplies during time of crisis between the two countries. The prime ministers also agreed to keep working together on green energy and transport tech, and green economy initiatives.
It followed an orchid naming ceremony, in which the flower was named Dendrobium Christopher Luxon.
Luxon said the Singapore relationship with New Zealand was multi-layered and “a huge contributor to what we need to do as we deepen our partnerships across Southeast Asia”.