Speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Official Dinner hosted in honour of Her Excellency Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, 08 December 2011 at the Istana

Your Excellency Yingluck Shinawatra

Excellencies
  
Distinguished Guests
  
Ladies and Gentlemen
 

It is my pleasure to warmly welcome Your Excellency and your delegation on your first Official Visit to Singapore.  Singapore and Thailand are old and close friends.  Your Excellency’s visit underscores the warm friendship and good relations between our two countries.

Let me also express my sincere condolences to Your Excellency and the people of Thailand for the destruction and tragic loss of lives caused by the recent floods in Thailand. The Thai people have shown solidarity and resilience in coping with this natural disaster. I hope that the assistance provided by the Singapore Government and the Singapore Red Cross contributed to the flood relief efforts. Under your able leadership, I am confident that Thailand will emerge stronger from this tragedy.

Your Excellency,

Our ties date far back to the 19th Century.  King Chulalongkorn first visited Singapore in 1871, and made many more visits during his reign.  These visits to Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries to strengthen links with Thailand’s neighbours reflected His Royal Highness’ foresight and wisdom. Over the years, our friendship has grown deeper and stronger, underpinned by our shared interests and frequent interactions.

Today, our economic ties are robust and mutually beneficial.  Defence relations are also longstanding, with our defence services conducting regular joint exercises and exchanging high-level visits.  People-to-people interactions are also extensive. 

We also have many institutional links, such as the Singapore-Thailand Civil Service Exchange Programme (CSEP) and the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Economic Relationship (STEER).  Singapore looks forward to hosting the next meeting of CSEP in 2012. We are also happy and ready to host the third STEER meeting, at an early and mutually convenient date. All these exchanges have strengthened our personal friendships and links between our two countries.

Your Excellency,

I am confident that our relationship will continue to be fruitful and mutually beneficial. Singapore looks forward to deepening our political, economic and cultural ties with Thailand.  We should also strengthen our regional cooperation within ASEAN, and work together towards our common goal of an ASEAN Community by 2015 and a peaceful, prosperous and more integrated Southeast Asia.

I look forward to cooperating closely with Your Excellency to strengthen our bilateral relationship for the mutual benefit of our peoples.

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

May I invite you to rise and join me in a toast:

• To the good health and happiness of His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej
 
• To the good health and success of Her Excellency Yingluck Shinawatra;
  
• To the peace, progress and prosperity of the people and Kingdom of Thailand; and

• To the enduring friendship between Singapore and Thailand.

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