Ties between Australia and Singapore have been given a significant boost with both leaders signing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership enhancing defence, business and cultural links.
Tony Abbott's trip to Singapore has been warm and friendly with a barbecue get together to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, prior to the official bilateral talks between the two leaders.
“It's been a very good 50 years for Singapore. It's been a very good 50 years for Singapore and Australia but we want to build on the friendship which has been long and strong” Mr Abbott said.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the new Strategic Partnership document is an important development.
“I am very glad that today we have taken one step forward, one important step forward with a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that Prime Minister Abbott and I have just signed. “
“I am very glad that today we have taken one important step forward with a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that Prime Minister Abbott and I have just signed.“
“I would like to thank Mr Abbott for his very strong support, because without his initiating this and pushing this and bringing it through the CSB may not have materialised.”
“He saw the potential for bringing our two countries together. Early on he raised it when we first met in 2012 and I shared his vision and strongly supported it and over the past year our officials have worked hard to make this a reality.”
Defence boost
The defence boost is significant. Singapore and Australia already have close links. Both are members of the Five Powers Defence Arrangement with the UK, New Zealand and Malaysia. Singapore soldiers and members of the air force train in Australia. Now there is to be a new Defence Cooperation Agreement signed within 12 months likely to see more training taking place and more external exercises, possibly with the US. Singapore, like Australia, hosts US training rotations as part of the US "pivot to Asia".
Both leaders publicly rejected the notion that their friendship boost is related to political development in Indonesia and territorial disputes in the South and East China Sea but defence analysts in Australia believe this is the case.
“Singapore and Australia have always been close but there are a range of factors that will bring the countries even closer together," Peter Jennings, of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said prior to the visit.
"Doubts about Indonesia’s capacity to lead in the regional grouping of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), concern about China in the South China Sea and a common problem both Australia and Singapore face around domestic radicalisation.”
Business and trade ties
From a business perspective, the trip was the first opportunity to "road test" the new approach of selling and promoting development of Northern Australia.
The North Australian White Paper was launched recently and on this trip Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, West Australian Premier Colin Barnett and Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles accompanied the Prime Minister and Trade Minister Andrew Robb in search for Singaporean capital.
“We will also facilitate opportunities for Singaporean businesses to establish a foothold in Northern Australia which is resource-rich and has many potentials for development.”
Prime Minister Abbott opened the Northern Australian Investment Roundtable and spoke at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast about the opportunities for Singaporean businesses in the resource rich north.
“This teeming city state, along with London, New York and Hong Kong, is perhaps the world's greatest financial centre. It is rapidly overtaking Switzerland as the world's premier source of private finance,” Mr Abbott said in his business speech.
He continued the theme at the joint leaders press conference.
“I am not here alone” Mr Abbott said.
“I am here with the Premier of Western Australia, the Premier of Queensland, the Minister for Trade and Investment, a very large and high level business delegation representing not just our major economic institutions but some of our splendid cultural institutions as well.”
Prime Minister Lee responded with enthusiasm.
“We will also facilitate opportunities for Singaporean businesses to establish a foothold in Northern Australia which is resource-rich and has many potentials for development.”
They also signed a memorandum of understanding on counter terrorism.
“It's not a national threat, it's an international one. The Governments need to operate across borders too. I think the co-operation can go beyond that.” Prime Minister Lee said.
Australia was the first country to recognise an independent Singapore in 1965. Throughout this year the island state has been commemorating its 50th anniversary.
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