SM Lee Hsien Loong at the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Your Excellency Chairperson Tanzila Narbaeva,
Your Excellency Speaker Nuriddin Ismoilov,
Honourable Members of the Oliy Majlis,

Thank you for the warm welcome, and for the honour of addressing this distinguished chamber.

May I also congratulate you on Uzbekistan’s 35^th Independence Day tomorrow.

I am delighted to be in Uzbekistan. As a boy, I read about Uzbekistan’s great cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara. Many years ago, I transited through Tashkent Airport. On that brief stopover, I remember telling myself that I must return some day. So when President Mirziyoyev invited me to visit Uzbekistan in 2023, I immediately accepted. I am very glad that after all these years, I have finally made it here.

Different Geographies, Shared Realities

In many ways, Singapore and Uzbekistan are very different countries. We are situated 6,000 kilometres apart. Singapore is a small city-state in Southeast Asia, surrounded by sea. Uzbekistan is a large country in the heart of Central Asia. It is doubly landlocked, in the middle of the enormous Eurasian land mass.

Yet, we do have some significant similarities. We both became independent by peacefully splitting off from larger federations: Uzbekistan from the former Soviet Union; Singapore from the Federation of Malaysia. We are both far from being the biggest countries in our regions. Singapore is in fact the smallest country in Southeast Asia. Uzbekistan is several hundred times bigger than Singapore, but you have neighbours as large as you, and some even larger. So we have both learnt to get along with our neighbours.

Most fundamentally, we are both affected by what happens in the wider world, be it the geopolitical environment, or the physical climate we experience every day – and both of these are changing. In geopolitics, in both Central Asia and Southeast Asia, the major powers of the day have long jostled for advantage and influence. Today, the Great Game continues and has intensified. So both Uzbekistan and Singapore have to think carefully about how to maintain positive relationships with the major powers, while upholding our national interests. With climate change, we are both seeing extremes of weather hitherto unknown. In 2023, President Mirziyoyev had to cut short his State Visit to Singapore to deal with one of the coldest winters in Uzbekistan’s history. This year, I understand, has been one of the hottest summers on record in Uzbekistan. In Singapore, we have in recent years experienced both prolonged droughts and intense rainfall, which were beyond our historical experience. Therefore, we both depend on a well-functioning international order where countries can tackle shared challenges together, and deliver peace, stability and progress for our peoples.

Uzbekistan and Singapore have much to gain from cooperating with one another. Geography may be an obstacle, but geography does not determine our fate. Countries have agency, because their peoples and their leaders can take their fates into their own hands. We can choose how to respond to our realities, make the most of the opportunities that are bound to arise, and create our own futures.

Our two histories illustrate this truth. For centuries, the Silk Road carried goods, ideas and cultures across the Eurasian continent. The cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent prospered because they opened themselves up, linked up with these routes, and did business with distant lands in the Far East and Europe. Visiting the Islamic Civilisation Centre in Tashkent, and the historic sites of Samarkand last week, I was deeply impressed by what I learnt, and by the resilience, endurance, and resourcefulness of the people of Uzbekistan through the centuries.

Singapore has a similar historical experience, though by sea instead of by land. Our location at the southern tip of the Malayan peninsula placed us on the ancient maritime silk route connecting China with the Middle East and Europe. For centuries, we functioned as a trading outpost and a regional entrepot. After a flourishing period in the 14^th century, Singapore’s regional significance waned. But 200 years ago, the British arrived, and built a free port in Singapore. Trade grew rapidly, people streamed in from all over the region, and economic activity took off. This was the beginning of modern Singapore.

Singapore became independent in 1965. Over the six decades since then, we have learnt that to survive and succeed, a small country like ours must build friendships far and wide, be open to trade and investment, and make ourselves a reliable partner to others.

The connections between Uzbekistan and Singapore have not hitherto been very extensive, because of our vastly different geographies and separate histories. But still, there are many opportunities for us to work together.

Common Objectives and Interests

During President Mirziyoyev’s State Visit to Singapore, he and I had a serious and engaged discussion.

We talked about the importance of: instituting proper systems and infrastructure − to attract foreign investments and create economic opportunities; improving the quality of government – to deliver effective policies, and run efficient public services; investing in education − to equip youths with the skills they need in a globalised world.

We discussed ways to spur urban development; accelerate digitalisation and innovation; and foster interfaith harmony.

All these issues have been important in Singapore’s own development journey. They continue to preoccupy me and my colleagues in government. Up-to-date infrastructure and an efficient, effective government helped us to create a conducive business environment, and make Singapore internationally competitive. A good education system developed our young people to the fullest, so that our human talent could make up for our lack of natural resources. Racial and religious harmony kept our multi-racial and multi-religious society cohesive and stable. These strategies helped us to overcome physical constraints and progress in the world.

Speaking to your President, and listening to his priorities and objectives, I realised that he was focussed on the same areas that we in Singapore were paying attention to. It reflected how despite our different histories and situations, at a fundamental level, we both face many similar challenges, and are tackling them through similar strategies. Hence we have much to gain from exchanging views and learning from each other’s experiences.

Our two countries have followed up since then with further exchanges. Then-President Madam Halimah Yacob reciprocated President Mirziyoyev’s State Visit later that year. Speaker Ismoilov and Singapore’s Speaker of Parliament Mr Seah Kian Peng have exchanged Official Visits. And I am very happy to be here today, to address the Oliy Majlis.

Cooperation at Multilateral Fora

Over the past decade, under President Mirziyoyev’s leadership, Uzbekistan has undertaken important reforms and opened itself to the world. We in Singapore have watched with admiration the changes you have implemented, and the progress you have made during this period.

This progress is especially significant, because Uzbekistan has embarked upon this strategy at a time when the global system is under stress. After the Second World War, and especially since the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a rules-based international order prevailed. Countries big and small were generally expected to act according to a common set of rules and norms. The zeitgeist was for international co-operation, with countries largely pursuing win-win partnerships and mutual prosperity, even with rivals. And this gave smaller countries like us a measure of protection and predictability.

Uzbekistan and Singapore both benefitted greatly from this rules-based international order. In particular, we both gained from a multilateral trading system, centred on the World Trade Organization, the WTO. So did most countries in the world.

But multilateralism is now being eroded. Rivalries and tensions between major powers are growing. Trade dependencies are becoming weaponised. In response, countries are emphasising resilience and security over economic interdependence and mutual prosperity. In such an environment, small and medium-sized countries face greater uncertainty, enjoy fewer opportunities, and have less international space to pursue our own independent paths. This worries us in Singapore, and it must concern you in Uzbekistan too.

Yet, our response cannot be to close ourselves up. Bigger countries may be able to pursue self-sufficiency by erecting trade barriers to protect their domestic markets. But smaller countries like Singapore and Uzbekistan will aways have to do business with the world. Closing ourselves off and turning inwards is simply impossible. We must remain open and outward-looking, and seek out like-minded partners who will work with us to support and uphold multilateral rules.

And this is why Singapore welcomes Uzbekistan’s impending accession to the World Trade Organization. At a time when the WTO system is being attacked and weakened, Uzbekistan’s action shows that there are still countries pursuing openness, rules-based trade and economic interdependence. And this strengthens the coalition of like-minded countries working together to shore up the multilateral trading system for our collective benefit. Singapore wishes Uzbekistan’s accession every success. We look forward to cooperating with you on initiatives that further the shared interests of WTO members.

In the same spirit, Singapore co-operates with Uzbekistan at the United Nations (UN) and other international forums. For example, recently Singapore co-sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution tabled by Uzbekistan on behalf of Central Asian states. The resolution was on “Central Asia in the Face of Environmental Challenges: Strengthening Regional Solidarity for the Sake of Sustainable Development and Prosperity”. On the face of it, this was a matter of remote concern to a Southeast Asian country. But Singapore was happy to co-sponsor it. Because when dealing with global challenges that affect us all, all countries are neighbours to one another.

Next year, Uzbekistan will assume the Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The international environment today is very different from when the Movement was founded. Yet NAM’s basic objectives — to enable countries to preserve their independence, to pursue constructive relations with all, and to contribute to peace and development — remain relevant. Singapore will give Uzbekistan’s chairmanship of NAM, our full support.

Connecting Our Regions

Besides cooperating in multilateral forums, Singapore and Uzbekistan can also work together to link up Central Asia and Southeast Asia, and grow cooperation between our two regions. Singapore has long been a gateway to Southeast Asia, a region of more than 700 million people and one of the fastest-growing parts of the world. Uzbekistan is increasingly a gateway to Central Asia, a region with considerable strategic importance and economic potential. It makes sense to strengthen links between Central and Southeast Asia.

We therefore look forward to Uzbekistan’s early accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with ASEAN – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Hopefully your move will encourage other Central Asian states to do more with ASEAN too.

Next year, Singapore will be the Chair of the ASEAN group. In this role, Singapore hopes to identify more opportunities for ASEAN to engage partners beyond our traditional networks. This will not only open up new possibilities for cooperation. It will also foster an open, inclusive and outward-looking regional architecture for Southeast Asia. Because we strive for a Southeast Asia which is linked to many countries and regions, where many partners can participate in and benefit from Southeast Asia’s stability and success, and Central Asia fits well into this vision.

Bilateral Cooperation

Last but not least, our two countries can also do more with each other, bilaterally.

Our cooperation has progressed significantly since President Mirziyoyev’s State Visit in 2023.

On the economic front, trade is growing rapidly, albeit from a low base. Singapore’s direct investments into Uzbekistan are growing too. On this trip, I witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between two Singapore companies and the Uzbek government, to build a large agribusiness facility here in Tashkent. These trends and projects reflect Singapore businesses’ growing familiarity with and interest in opportunities in Uzbekistan. We should capitalise on this interest. Singapore and Uzbekistan have agreed to launch negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement. This will make it easier for businesses in both countries to access each other’s markets, and further boost our nascent economic ties.

Our partnership need not be confined to traditional sectors. We can also cooperate on our shared challenges such as water management, where Singapore has developed expertise, as well as in newer domains such as fintech (financial technology).

Another important field for cooperation is in building institutions and developing our people. Singapore has accumulated practical experience in governance, public administration and economic development. We are happy to share this experience with our friends, where it is relevant. Several hundred Uzbek officials have come to Singapore for exposure and immersion, and received training in public administration, civil aviation and urban development. And we are currently exploring launching a dedicated programme for senior Uzbek government officials on leadership and governance. I hope it can begin soon.

Just as importantly, we should invest in exchanges between the next generation – the young. Such exchanges will build friendships between young Singaporeans and Uzbeks in their formative years, and help grow our partnership for years to come.

Conclusion

Amidst all the uncertainty and turbulence in the world, smaller countries like us must continue to strengthen our partnership and cooperation – globally, between our regions, and bilaterally. This will help us to navigate the uncertainties and hazards safely, spot and exploit opportunities which will arise, and deliver better lives and brighter futures for our peoples.

Next year marks the 30^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Uzbekistan. Approaching this milestone, let us celebrate what we have achieved together, and work to create new possibilities for our partnership.

Thank you very much. Rahmat.