India and Singapore are building partnership of our age, says Modi

SINGAPORE: Stating that political relations between India and Singapore are among the warmest and closest, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the two sides are building a relationship of our age.

Addressing a business and community event, Modi described the relationship between India and Singapore as “our heritage”.

Stating that this southeast Asian city state never fails to inspire, he said that it has shown that size can be no barrier to the scale of achievements.

“But, Singapore’s success also lies in the harmony of its multi-cultural society, in the celebration of its diversity, which under-lies a distinct and unique Singaporean identity,” he said.

Praising the role of the 800,000 people of Indian origin here, he said: “Here in Singapore, you represent the diversity of India.”

Modi also referred to the fact that Tamil is an official language in Singapore and said that children here can learn five different Indian languages in schools.

“On the foundations of this extraordinary heritage, the wealth of our human links and the strength of our shared values, India and Singapore are building a partnership of our age,” he said. “It is a relationship that truly meets the test of strategic partnership.”

India and Singapore elevated their bilateral ties to that of a Strategic Partnership in 2015.

Modi said that when India opened up to the world and turned to the east, Singapore became a partner and a bridge between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc.

“Political relations between India and Singapore are among the warmest and closest,” he said.

“There are no contests or claims, no irritants or doubts.”

Stating that it is a natural partnership from a shared vision, he said defence relations between India and Singapore are also among the strongest.

INDIA AND SINGAPORE ELEVATED THEIR BILATERAL TIES TO THAT OF A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP IN 2015