Singapore Bilateral Linkages

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Janet Morris

4:43am Wednesday 17 March

Singapore Bilateral Linkages

Relations between Singapore and New Zealand are close and friendly, with a focus on defence and economic ties. The first major economic agreement between New Zealand and Singapore was the Agreement on a Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP). This entered into force on 1 January 2001. It led to the signature of the Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (TPSEP/P4) in June 2005 between New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei and Chile.

A Work Exchange Programme for tertiary students and recent graduates exists between Singapore and New Zealand. The programme, which started in 1999, enables New Zealand and Singaporean participants to work in each other's country for up to six months.

New Zealand has concluded Defence and Double Taxation agreements and a liberal ‘Open Skies' Air Services Agreement with Singapore. An Audio-visual Co-production Agreement was signed in July 2004 to enhance co-operation between the film industries of both countries.

In the year ended June 2008, some 27,000 Singaporean residents visited New Zealand, a 2 percent drop from the previous year.

Visits

To Singapore

Prime Minister Rt Hon Helen Clark visited Singapore in November 2007 to attend the EAS, and prior to this, in April 2007.
Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters attended the EAS meeting in Singapore in November 2007.
Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters attended the AMM and PMC meetings in Singapore in July 2008.
Energy Minister Hon Harry Duynhoven visited Singapore in August 2007 to attend the EAS Energy Ministers meeting.
Hon Annette King (Minister of Justice, Police and Transport) visited Singapore in June 2007.
Defence Minister Hon Phil Goff visited Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2007 and made a bilateral visit 23-24 August 2007.
Defence Minister Hon Phil Goff visited Singapore to attend the AEM in August 2008.

To New Zealand

President SR Nathan undertook the first state visit to New Zealand by a Singaporean President from 26-30 April 2008. He was accompanied by a delegation of 30 including Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development, Dr Balaji Sadasivan Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Penny Low MP and Dr Muhammad Faishal MP.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports visited Wellington in May 2007 prior to attending the Alliance of Civilisations Symposium in Auckland.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew came to New Zealand in March 2007.
Second Minister of Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen visited in February 2007.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited in June 2006.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean visited in August 2008.
Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, came to New Zealand in September 2008.