August 5, 2025
SINGAPORE – In a world that is increasingly turbulent, Singapore and Australia are working closely together across a range of sectors, from defence and education, to culture and sports, and to uphold an open, rules-based trading system globally, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Aug 4.
Underpinning this strong partnership is a long shared history, and bonds between both countries and their people that are lived, felt and continually renewed, he added.
He was speaking at a state banquet held to host Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn, whose state visit from Aug 3 to 6 marks Singapore’s 60th year of independence and commemorates the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Singapore-Australia diplomatic relations.
Ms Mostyn separately met Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and affirmed the strong people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
They also spoke about the importance of the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), which was established in 2015 and serves as a broad-ranging agreement to deepen Singapore’s collaboration with Australia.
To date, the partnership has seen more than 110 completed initiatives across six pillars comprising economics and trade, defence and foreign affairs, science and innovation, people-to-people ties, the digital economy, and the green economy.
Ms Mostyn and PM Wong said they look forward to the upgrade of the CSP later in 2025 when PM Wong visits Australia. The upgraded CSP will see deepened bilateral cooperation in areas such as defence, supply chain resilience, renewable energy, and cyber and critical technologies.
PM Wong said in a Facebook post: “Our strong and enduring partnership is anchored on shared perspectives and deep mutual trust.”
He added that he looks forward to taking the partnership to the next level when he visits Australia later in 2025.
At the state dinner banquet, Mr Tharman said Australia was among the very first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Singapore, and that ties go back even further to World War II when Australian soldiers helped in the defence of Malaya and Singapore.
“Out of that shared history has grown a resilient partnership. We cooperate in increasing depth, and across an unusually broad span of endeavours,” he said.
Mr Tharman highlighted defence as a critical pillar of that relationship, as 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of Exercise Wallaby – the Singapore Armed Forces’ largest overseas training exercise.
Both countries are deepening relations in education, culture and sports too.
Over 60,000 people of Singaporean heritage live in Australia, while more than 20,000 Australians have made Singapore their second home, he noted.
“We are navigating a world that is now radically more uncertain, more exposed to shocks, and at growing risk of damage from the climate crisis and renewed global health threats,” Mr Tharman said.
“Amid this global turbulence, Singapore and Australia have chosen to look ahead, and to lead together.”
He noted that both countries were the first to sign bilateral agreements on the digital economy and green economy – “pioneering new and constructive ways of cooperation for the future”, he said.
“At the same time, Singapore welcomes Australia’s continued and deepening engagement in our region, in particular with Asean,” Mr Tharman added.
Both countries are also driving global efforts to shape future trade rules, he said.
Along with Japan, Singapore and Australia are co-convenors of the World Trade Organisation Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce to establish the first global digital trade rules.
“It reflects not only our shared commitment to multilateralism, but our readiness to lead in adapting it for the future economy,” Mr Tharman said.
Singapore and Australia are close partners not just by obligation, but also by choice, he added.
“I am confident that in the years ahead, we will continue to learn from each other, support each other’s aspirations, help uplift the region, and work together to broker cooperative solutions internationally.”
In her speech, Ms Mostyn said: “Together, we stand at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence, cyber security and green technologies. One of Australia’s five start-up landing pads is here in Singapore, where entrepreneurs are working on everything from fintech to healthcare.”
She noted that Singapore is one of Australia’s most significant sources of foreign investments.
“We work together in regional forums like Asean and the East Asia Summit and our prime ministers meet every year,” she added.
Earlier in the day, Ms Mostyn received a ceremonial welcome at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
She called on Mr Tharman and they discussed a range of issues, including how both countries could learn from each other’s strategies in supporting mental health among young people, and in developing and updating skills for a rapidly changing labour market.
She also visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where an orchid hybrid was named after her, as well as the Samaritans of Singapore.
n commemoration of 60 years of diplomatic relations, Ms Mostyn presented Mr Tharman with a specially commissioned Australian indigenous artwork.
Mr Tharman reciprocated with a work of art symbolising Singapore’s harmonious growth, creativity and diversity across six decades by Singapore artist Leong Sijun.
During her visit, Ms Mostyn will also lay a wreath at the Kranji War Memorial for Australian soldiers who fought in Singapore’s defence during World War II.
She will visit the Changi Chapel and Museum and Gardens by the Bay, where she will attend an Australian native tree dedication ceremony and unveil a permanent installation of an indigenous sculpture.
Ms Mostyn’s visit is the latest exchange between leaders from both sides.
In 2025, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met PM Wong in Singapore in May.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles also met PM Wong and Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing in June on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue.
PM Wong’s visit to Australia later in 2025 will be an introductory one, to launch the upgraded partnership, commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties and attend the 10th Annual Leaders’ Meeting.
In 2024, Australia was Singapore’s 12th largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade in goods amounting to $30.3 billion.
Singapore’s top imports from Australia include petroleum oils, natural gas, semi-precious stones and metals, as well as animal and vegetable oils.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s key exports to Australia are petroleum oils, mechanical appliances and electrical machinery.
Australia is also an important food source for Singapore, as it is the Republic’s second-highest import source for beef and pork, and third for milk, milk products and vegetables.
Economic relations are underpinned by the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which was signed and entered into force in 2003.