SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (Could 6) congratulated Mr Friedrich Merz on his election as German chancellor and thanked outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his efforts to strengthen ties between the 2 international locations.
Mr Merz was elected chancellor by parliament on Tuesday in a second spherical of voting after unexpectedly failing to safe a majority in an preliminary vote.
In a letter to the incoming chancellor, Mr Wong prolonged his “warmest congratulations” to Mr Merz, noting the 2 international locations shared a “deep and abiding friendship, underpinned by mutual belief, and multifaceted cooperation”.
Singapore and Germany have a good time 60 years of diplomatic relations this 12 months. The 2 international locations additionally upgraded their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership final November.
Mr Wong wrote: “This partnership deepens present financial and safety cooperation, whereas offering contemporary impetus to work collectively in new areas like digitalisation/AI, analysis, startups and innovation, clear vitality and sustainable improvement.”
“Singapore and Germany additionally share a standard dedication to upholding open commerce, worldwide legislation, and a rules-based international order. On this regard, we cooperate carefully at multilateral fora,” he added.
The prime minister additionally mentioned he welcomed Germany’s rising engagement within the Asia Pacific area.
He famous that greater than 2,300 German corporations had a presence in Singapore, with many utilizing the nation as their gateway to ASEAN and the broader area.
“I stay up for persevering with to deepen our hyperlinks, together with by leveraging the EU-Singapore Free Commerce Settlement and the EU-Singapore Digital Commerce Settlement,” Mr Wong mentioned.
He added that he seemed ahead to working along with Mr Merz to “additional intensify, improve and deepen relations between our two international locations”.
“I additionally want you all the very best as you tackle the chancellorship and stay up for assembly you quickly,” he wrote.
