Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong begins first India visit, marking 60 years of ties with PM Modi; talks focus on trade, fintech, connectivity, and Indo-Pacific cooperation….reports Asian Lite News
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong began his maiden official visit to India, a three-day trip aimed at deepening bilateral ties as both countries mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Wong, who assumed office earlier this year, arrived in New Delhi with his spouse and a high-level delegation that includes Cabinet ministers and senior officials. He was warmly received at the airport by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, underscoring the ceremonial importance of the visit.
“A warm welcome to PM @LawrenceWongST of Singapore as he arrives in New Delhi on his first Official Visit to India. Received by MoS for Finance @mppchaudhary at the airport,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X. He added that the visit would “further strengthen the India-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” at a time when both nations celebrate six decades of diplomatic engagement.
This visit carries symbolic weight, coinciding with both the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations and Singapore’s 60th year of independence (SG60). Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s own trip to Singapore in September 2024 elevated bilateral relations to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reflecting their growing alignment across multiple sectors.
Wong’s first India visit as Prime Minister is expected to consolidate this momentum. He will hold a formal bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi on 4 September, after which Modi will host him at a banquet lunch. In addition, Wong will call on President Droupadi Murmu, signalling India’s high regard for Singapore as a partner within its Act East Policy framework.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval are also scheduled to meet the visiting leader.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that the visit provides both Prime Ministers with an opportunity to review “robust and multifaceted cooperation” and to chart a course for future collaboration. Regional and global issues of mutual concern, including connectivity, security, trade resilience, and climate action, are also expected to feature in discussions.
As part of his engagements, Wong will pay homage at Raj Ghat to Mahatma Gandhi, highlighting the shared values of democracy and pluralism that both countries often emphasise in global fora. He will also interact with the Singaporean diaspora in Delhi during a reception marking both SG60 and 60 years of India-Singapore ties.
Business cooperation is set to be a major highlight, with Wong scheduled to attend a closed-door roundtable with Indian industry leaders. The dialogue is expected to touch upon fintech, cross-border investments, digital economy, and infrastructure development—key sectors that both governments have prioritised.
Strengthening the economic pillar
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s meeting with Prime Minister Wong on Tuesday set the tone for the visit. Discussions centred on expanding the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with a focus on trade and investment, fintech, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, and connectivity.
In a statement posted on X, the Ministry of Finance described the talks as “pivotal,” adding that both sides reiterated their commitment to deepening cooperation across these sectors. The Singaporean delegation at the meeting included Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow, as well as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang.
For his part, Prime Minister Wong posted on X about reconnecting with Sitharaman and highlighted the outcomes of the recently held third round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable. “Glad to reconnect with India Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. We discussed the outcomes of the recently held 3rd India-SG Ministerial Roundtable, and our interest to collaborate on cross-border data flows and capital markets,” Wong wrote.
Strategic importance of the partnership
India and Singapore share a longstanding history of cooperation, with ties stretching from defence to culture. However, their partnership has taken on new dimensions in recent years, particularly in areas such as digital innovation, green finance, and education.
Singapore remains one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India, while Indian businesses have a growing footprint in Singapore, particularly in technology and financial services. The two countries also cooperate closely on defence and maritime security, with joint military exercises underscoring their shared interest in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Against the backdrop of intensifying global challenges, including supply chain disruptions, geopolitical uncertainty, and climate change, both sides view their partnership as a model of resilience. Singapore’s role as a financial hub and India’s status as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies provide a natural complementarity that leaders are keen to harness.
Prime Minister Wong’s engagements in India highlight the expanding canvas of cooperation. From celebrating historical milestones to laying foundations for new economic and technological initiatives, his visit is expected to yield concrete outcomes while reinforcing the shared strategic vision.
As New Delhi balances its global outreach—whether with ASEAN, the Quad, or Eurasian groupings like the SCO—its relationship with Singapore remains one of the most trusted and future-oriented pillars of its foreign policy.
For Singapore, strengthening ties with India is not just about deepening bilateral relations but also about engaging with a key partner that can anchor stability and growth across the wider Indo-Pacific.
The symbolism of Wong’s first visit to India as Prime Minister, coinciding with 60 years of diplomatic relations, is therefore matched by its substance: a reaffirmation that India and Singapore see their futures as closely intertwined.
