By Lucy Craymer
WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand and Singapore on Friday signed a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP), with their prime ministers pledging to continue to find ways to work together to maintain the international rules-based order at a time of growing tensions.
The two countries have maintained political ties for 60 years, and in 2019 signed an enhanced partnership agreement that covered trade and economics, defence and security, and supply chains.
“Singapore is one of our closest partners. As small states, it’s important we work side-by-side to keep trade open, strengthen security, and defend the rules-based order,” New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a statement following the signing of the agreement.
“Through the CSP, we have committed to tackling the next generation of challenges together, from supply chain resilience and digital trade to climate change and maritime security,” Luxon added.
The two countries also concluded an agreement on trade in essential supplies, formalising an arrangement that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when air freight continued between the two countries despite few passengers on flights.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at a joint press conference on Friday that the legally binding agreement meant both governments had committed to not imposing export restrictions, even during times of crisis, on some key products like medicine and other essential supplies.
“I think that’s an agreement that will give assurance to both our countries and to both our peoples that in times of need, we will always be there for one another,” Wong said.
Wong, who leaves New Zealand on Saturday, visited Australia earlier in the week, agreeing an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership between Canberra and Singapore that would deepen defence ties.
(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Jamie Freed)
