Prime Minister Tony Abbott is heading back to Australia after committing to work closer with Singapore.
The comprehensive strategic partnership signed on Monday includes new areas of economic and security co-operation, including an agreement to review the free trade agreement by July next year.
Mr Abbott is hopeful it will lead to Singapore being "like family".
It should be as easy to live and work in each other's countries as it is for Australians and New Zealanders, he says.
After signing the pact with Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong, Mr Abbott gave the Singapore Lecture, on the topic of common security challenges.
Mr Abbott said both countries shared the knowledge that doing nothing about Islamic State was not an option.
"The difference between the last American involvement in the Middle East and any stronger one now would be that this is in support of the legitimate government of Iraq," he said.
"The difference between this outbreak of doomsday fundamentalism and the last, lesser one, is that Daesh has united almost every Muslim authority against it.
"This is not a fight that can be won quickly or easily, but it can't be avoided."
The new partnership opens the door to greater defence engagement and, on top of this, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding on counter-terrorism.
Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb has been tasked with finalising the measures.
Share
