Strong S'pore-Australia ties underpinned by bonds that are continually renewed: President Tharman
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam meeting Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who is on a state visit to Singapore, on Aug 4.
SINGAPORE – In a world that is increasingly turbulent, Singapore and Australia are working closely together across a range of sectors, from defence to education, 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 which include 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.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Singapore launches review of economic strategy to stay ahead of global shifts
Singapore A look at the five committees reviewing Singapore's economic strategy
Business More support for sectors and workers vulnerable to tech disruptions, global competition
Business Singapore to tap advanced manufacturing, AI under strategic review
Singapore All recruits at BMTC will be trained to fly drones and counter them: Chan Chun Sing
Singapore Ong Beng Seng to be sentenced on Aug 15, prosecution does not object to fine due to his poor health
Singapore Pritam Singh had hoped WP would 'tip one or two more constituencies' at GE2025
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.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam with Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn at the state banquet on Aug 4.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
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 not just close partners by obligation, but 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.
Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn, with Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah and Singapore Botanic Gardens group director Tan Puay Yok, viewing an orchid hybrid named after her.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
In commemoration of 60 years of diplomatic relations, Ms Mostyn presented Mr Tharman with a specially commissioned Australian indigenous artwork.
Mr Tharman reciprocated with an artwork symbolising Singapore's harmonious growth, creativity and diversity across six decades by Singapore artist Leong Sijun.
During the rest of her visit, Ms Mostyn will lay a wreath at the Kranji War Memorial for Australian soldiers who fought in Singapore's defence during World War II.
She will also 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 Minster 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 Singapore'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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Returned and reeling: Afghans expelled from Iran struggle to start over
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox ISLAM QALA, Afghanistan, August 7 - Habiba, an Afghan woman who fled Taliban rule to pursue a master's degree in engineering in Iran, was deported in July just before she was about to complete her studies. The 31-year-old, who declined to give her family name for fear of repercussions, said she returned to her homeland with little more than her laptop and documents, the last traces of a future she nearly secured, one of hundreds of thousands forced to return in recent weeks as Iran ramped up expulsions of Afghans in the wake of its war with Israel. "I was so close," Habiba told Reuters at the Afghan border post of Islam Qala. She said she had just saved enough to complete her thesis, the final step before graduation, and now will have to start over in a country where women are barred from high school, let alone university. Aid agencies say accusations by Iranian authorities that Afghan nationals were spying for Israel triggered a surge in deportations, with the UN refugee agency UNHCR reporting nearly 700,000 Afghans expelled from Iran since the beginning of June. The two countries share a 920-km (550-mile) land border through a flat, arid landscape. Iranian officials maintain those deported were undocumented and most left voluntarily, citing security and resource concerns. Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said in July that 70% of the 1 million who left since March did so by choice, local media reported. Local media quoted Nader Yarahmadi, an adviser to Iran's Interior Ministry and head of its Centre for Foreign Nationals and Immigrants Affairs, as saying that temporary census cards held by about 2 million Afghan nationals were invalidated from March and that they had until July to leave. An additional 2.1 million Afghans in Iran had no documents, he said. The number of Afghans returning exploded after Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June. UNHCR estimates Iran deported an average of more than 30,000 Afghans each day during the war, up 15-fold from about 2,000 earlier. But Iranian officials have downplayed espionage claims as isolated media reports. The crackdown is on illegal immigrants, Yarahmadi said. Aid workers at Islam Qala said some of the returnees arrived after days without food or water. Momeni said deportations were conducted with 'respect and dignity,' but admitted the war triggered rushed exits, leaving many without their wages or possessions. Reuters interviewed 26 Afghans who had recently returned from Iran, many of whom described coming home to a country that now feels unfamiliar and unlivable. Most of them denied they were illegal immigrants in Iran and said they had held some form of documentation. BACK TO CONFINEMENT Rahela, 37, said she had built a steady livelihood in Tehran as a certified makeup artist and seamstress. Now back in the Afghan city of Herat with her two daughters, she says she sees no future. She says she separated from her husband several years ago after he struggled with drug addiction, and has been raising her daughters alone ever since. The Taliban's restrictions bar women from most forms of employment and from travelling long distances without a male guardian. 'I have no helper and no male guardian (mahram),' she said. Her father, although a mahram, is elderly and unable to accompany her or provide support, leaving her effectively confined, she said. The flood of refugees returning to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan is straining aid in a country already grappling with economic collapse, donor fatigue and a ban on girls' secondary education. But it is the post-conflict purge from Iran that has overwhelmed Afghan authorities and aid workers, many of whom say they were unprepared for the scale and speed of the deportations. The Taliban-led government has urged Iran to proceed gradually, and allow returnees time to settle financial affairs and retrieve personal property. While the women who have returned spoke of lost rights and opportunities, Afghan men described split families, derailed plans and an uncertain future. Rahim Uzbek, 59, said he was arrested at his job as a security guard, deported alone, and is now living in a mosque near the Islam Qala crossing, away from his two wives and seven children who remained in Iran, although they were also Afghan nationals. He said that he had some money tied up in an advance payment for rent in Iran, but the landlord did not return it. 'I have no assets or savings, nor do I have any shelter or place to stay,' he said, with tears in his eyes. 'I have no idea what to do.' Mansoor Ahmad, 21, a metalworker from Kabul, said he was arrested at work and deported without his family. He said Iranian officers accused him of helping someone escape a deportation camp and beat him when he denied it. 'When I spoke, they beat me. When I stayed silent, they beat me again,' he said. 'Then they put me in solitary.' Red marks and bruises were visible on his back and shoulders, consistent with being struck or kicked. SECURITY AND EMPLOYMENT Iranian officials deny systemic abuse. The Iranian chargé d'affaires in Kabul, Alireza Bigdeli, said there were no official reports of mistreatment but acknowledged 'some may be unhappy with the way they were treated, detained, or returned.' Iranian authorities say they tried to prevent family separations but admit the post-war rush split some families. Students were encouraged to leave with relatives under a voluntary return plan. While many of the Afghans said life in Iran was tough, marked by discrimination, high costs and a constant sense of being unwelcome, they still had goals. Some worked, others studied. 'The situation in Iran was very difficult,' said Rahela. 'People treated us harshly. They humiliated and insulted us. But at least there was security and work. Women could work... and that was good for us." REUTERS
Straits Times
3 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Food Picks: Tasty Turkish fare at 27 Mezze Bar & Grill
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox There are only 27 items on the menu of 27 Mezze Bar & Grill at any given time. SINGAPORE – The '27' in 27 Mezze Bar & Grill refers not to the restaurant's unit number, but the number of dishes on its menu at any given time. Though by no means a sum to scoff at, for owner Ozlem Ozbilgili, this is an exercise in restraint. There is a whole lot more she could chuck at diners, if other Turkish restaurants in Singapore are anything to go by: more cheese-flooded variations of pide, more falafel, maybe a musakka or two. The classics that make the cut on the recently updated menu are those deemed sophisticated enough. Among the mezze, diners might recognise babaganoush ($14++) – or smoked eggplant salad – and, of course, hummus ($14++). Cannot decide? Try the mezze tasting board ($34++), which lets you pick three items from this category, into which you can dip toasty pillows of pita bread. Tradition is tightly woven into the menu, which is very much Mrs Ozbilgili's love letter to her home town. The rice-stuffed vine leaves ($16++) might prove a bit of an acquired taste for Singaporean diners used to the warm, savoury sort of leaf-wrapped rice. But Sucuk & Hellim ($22++) – Turkish sausage with halloumi – is the kind of high-fat, high-salt goodness that translates just fine across cultures. Cut it with the supremely refreshing Gavurdagi Salad ($24++), tossed with tomatoes, onion, walnuts and pomegranate molasses. It comes in especially handy once the mains arrive. After all, what is a Turkish meal without some grilled meat? Chief among them is the Adana Kebap ($37++). Hand-minced lamb is seasoned with just salt, capsicum and paprika, letting the natural richness of the meat take centre stage. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore PUB investigating wastewater discharge in Eunos: Pritam Singapore Water gel guns among newer tools NParks uses to manage monkeys in estates World Trump eyes 100% chips tariff, but 0% for US investors like Apple Singapore Afraid of small talk? Scared to make a phone call? How social skills workshops are helping young people Singapore ST and Uniqlo launch design contest for Singapore stories T-shirt collection Business DBS shares hit record-high after Q2 profit beats forecast on strong wealth fees, trading income Business UOB Q2 profit drops 6% to $1.34 billion, missing forecast Adana Kebap from 27 Mezze Bar & Grill. ST PHOTO: CHERIE LOK For something less gamey, opt for the deliciously charred, succulently marinated chicken skewers ($28++). Other Anatolian specialities, such as Turkish beef dumplings ($32++) and lamb meatballs with tomato sauce ($37++), make an appearance as well. 27 Mezze, opened in January 2024, is modelled after the meyhane – mey connoting alcohol and hane meaning house – style of dining, so be prepared to knock back a shot or two. Be warned, however, that raki (starting at $10++ a glass), Turkey's national drink, is 45 per cent alcohol, so there is a chance you may not remember anything from this meal. Where: 01-02A Riverside View, 30 Robertson Quay MRT: Fort Canning Open: Noon to 10.30pm (Sundays to Thursdays), noon to midnight (Fridays and Saturdays) Info:
Asia News Network
7 minutes ago
- Asia News Network
Singapore-made bot matchmakes strangers virtually
August 7, 2025 SINGAPORE – Undergraduate Mia, 26, has been chatting with potential dates on Telegram, but she has never seen their faces. It is only when they meet for their first date that she knows what they look like. She is among thousands who have been using amble, a Singapore-made bot that operates much like a virtual matchmaker. Introduced as a bot on Telegram – as @ambleprojectbot – in April 2023, amble is now also available as an app. On amble, users start out completely anonymous to each other, and do not have any idea what the other person looks like. This is in stark contrast to popular dating apps like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, where details like a person's appearance, height and occupation are often made visible. For Mia, this has been a great pull. She told The Straits Times that her previous experience using Bumble made her feel as though she was 'a tomato on display' at a Sunday market. With looks out of the equation on amble, Mia said she has been able to better determine her compatibility with her matches. '(A person's appearance) just isn't that high on my list in comparison with values or personality,' she said. As the conversation between two users progresses, 'milestones' are unlocked and more is revealed about the parties. This can include fun facts about them or a picture of them – the latter only if both users have chosen to share a photo. Mia said she and her matches chose not to reveal what they look like, and instead went on 'fun, blind meet-ups'. She has gone on two such meet-ups and said they were both enjoyable. 'Not rushed, not transactional' Ms Alyssa Chua, 27, co-founder of amble, told ST she began experimenting with the idea of the bot in 2023 as she felt that conversations, particularly those on dating apps, were beginning to feel more fleeting than before. 'We swipe, we judge, we expect instant chemistry. If sparks don't fly in the first few seconds, we move on,' she said. 'And yet, when we do find something real… it's because of a conversation that made us pause, think and see someone beyond the surface.' Ms Chua said she chose to name the bot 'amble' to reflect how she felt a conversation should feel. 'Not rushed, not transactional, but like taking a walk in the park with someone, one step at a time,' she said. That sentiment has resonated with enough users for Ms Chua and fellow co-founder Cayden Gwee, 27, to decide to release an app version of the bot in April. Ms Chua said there are now about 6,000 people using amble, both on Telegram and the app. Users can join for free, but need to pay for additional features. On Telegram, they can pay $10 a month for features such as faster matches and the ability to send videos, GIFs and voice messages. On the amble app, users can pay for benefits that include the ability to view their matches' online status, and receive up to six prompts or questions a day posed by the bot. The payment plans start from $12 a week to $48 for six months. The prompts, which are sent by the bot intermittently during the conversation, aim to help users find common ground. These can range from simple ones like whether they have unusual hobbies or talents to ones that provoke deeper thought such as: 'Do you think there's any sort of scenario which makes it fair to reveal a secret?' Mr Mac Healy, 27, who began using amble in 2024, told ST the 'brainwork' needed to answer most questions has helped him strike up 'pretty good' conversations and led to meaningful matches and dates. This is in comparison to popular dating apps, where conversations are 'the same… rinse-and-repeat', said the financial analyst. 'It's not like 'What's your favourite colour?' – I get sick hearing that every single time I enter a new talking phase… amble adds a good twist,' he added. Users can also filter the people they will be matched with based on their intention – whether they are looking for something romantic or platonic. Ms Chua said users have found all kinds of connections through amble. 'Some have met romantic partners – we've received very cute photos – while others have discovered shared passions with like-minded hobbyists,' she said. But with the online dating scene increasingly filled with scammy profiles and bots generated by artificial intelligence (AI), how sure can users be that the person they are chatting with is real? Ms Chua said that on Telegram, bots – like amble – are not allowed to engage with other bots, as part of the messaging app's security measure to prevent potential abuse. On the amble app, every profile is verified through the user's e-mail and phone number. The phone numbers are then cross-checked against databases of fraudulent numbers to prevent abuse, added Ms Chua. AI is also used on the app to assess users' answers to questions set out by amble during onboarding. 'Behind the scenes, we use AI to evaluate these responses by looking for indicators of intent, sincerity and alignment with the kind of meaningful conversations amble is built for,' said Ms Chua. 'This helps us ensure that the people on the platform are real and genuinely here to connect.' App not the end for Telegram bot Ms Chua said Telegram was chosen as the platform to first roll out amble as it gave the bot's creators the flexibility to test ideas, and without requiring users to download something that was new. Mr Ryan, who wanted to be known by only one name, said he found it convenient that he did not have to download yet another app onto his phone. '(It) definitely pulled me to using amble,' said the 29-year-old commercial pilot, who has been using the bot since early 2025. Ms Chua said Telegram also 'felt like a natural place for real conversations to happen'. However, the messaging platform also limited what Ms Chua and Mr Gwee could do with amble. For example, the bot is only able to let users speak to one match at a time. 'With an app, we are able to introduce concurrent matches, letting people explore multiple connections at once,' said Ms Chua. While users can experience only a simple chat interface on Telegram, an app allows for custom interfaces that could stimulate more thoughtful conversations, and even introduce game-like elements to inspire more playful interactions. The app, though, does not spell the end of the amble Telegram bot. Noting that some users preferred the bot's simplicity on Telegram, Ms Chua said she is exploring ways to keep it as an option alongside the app. 'But moving forward, the app will be our focus – because it allows us to build amble the way we've always envisioned it, without compromises,' said Ms Chua.
