September 3, 2024
SINGAPORE – President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reaffirmed Singapore’s continued, strong support for the United Nations, including its upholding of multilateralism, during a visit by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“Singapore is committed to strengthening the UN. We will continue to do whatever we can to support your leadership and the UN’s mission,” PM Wong said in a toast at a lunch he hosted for Mr Guterres on Sept 2.
“The rules-based multilateral system is crucial for preserving our sovereignty,” said the Prime Minister.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling on PM Lawrence Wong on Sept 2. PHOTO: MDDI/THE STRAITS TIMES
PM Wong also lauded Mr Guterres for his exemplary leadership in steering the UN during “troubled times”, with the international body helping to forge multinational solutions even as global trust has been eroded by deepening conflicts and geopolitical tensions.
Mr Guterres ended a three-day visit to Singapore – his first – on Sept 2.
On Sept 2, he called on Mr Tharman and PM Wong, and met Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
He had wide-ranging discussions with the Singaporean leaders on global and regional developments, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
In a post on Facebook, Mr Tharman described Mr Guterres as “a voice for peace, for a world where might is not right, and for bolder and more effective cooperation in all nations’ interests”.
“Singapore has been actively supporting the work under way at the United Nations to refresh and reinvigorate multilateralism. Global rules matter for everybody, but they matter most for small nations like ours,” he wrote.
When Mr Tharman was senior minister, he participated in a high-level advisory board that made recommendations on strengthening the multilateral system for the Summit of the Future, a high-level UN meeting initiated by Mr Guterres.
Member states are expected to pledge continual support for multilateralism and sustainable development at the summit, due to take place in New York on Sept 22 and 23.
Singapore supports the summit, PM Wong told Mr Guterres on Sept 2.
The day before, Mr Guterres was given a tour of Marina Barrage and was hosted to lunch by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu.
The MFA statement said that Ms Fu briefed him on Singapore’s efforts to promote water security, flood resilience and climate action.
She and Mr Guterres also discussed Singapore’s efforts to promote sustainability and enhance environmental protection at the national, regional and international level.
On Sept 1, Mr Guterres also toured Punggol Regional Library with Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, and Health Janil Puthucheary, who briefed him on Singapore’s digital inclusion policies, according to the MFA statement.
Minister for Digital Development and Information, Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity and Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo hosted Mr Guterres to dinner on Sept 1, during which they exchanged views on how to fight cybercrime.
Mrs Teo and Mr Guterres also discussed ways to address the challenges and opportunities thrown up by technological advances, according to the MFA statement.
A new orchid hybrid, Dendrobium Antonio Guterres, was named in the UN Secretary-General’s honour to commemorate his visit.