SINGAPORE, Sept 3 — Singapore and Thailand will work together to develop a multi-year agenda to advance the Asean Community Vision 2045, the Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) said.

The commitment was made by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his Thai counterpart, Anutin Charnvirakul, during the Singapore-Thailand Leaders’ Retreat in Bangkok yesterday.

In a joint statement, both leaders agreed that Singapore and Thailand should work closely together during their Asean Chairmanships in 2027 and 2028, respectively, to advance Asean’s priorities, strengthen regional integration, deepen cooperation with external partners and unlock new opportunities for the region.

“Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting an open, rules-based and inclusive Asean-centred regional architecture.

“At the same time, they underscored the importance that stable and constructive relations among major powers are indispensable for the maintenance of peace and prosperity in the region,” it said yesterday.

According to the joint statement, Thailand and Singapore will coordinate closely to advance regional integration, connectivity and resilience, as well as strengthen Asean’s cooperation and networks with its external partners.

Both leaders agreed that these efforts will uphold Asean’s centrality and ensure Asean’s continued relevance in this fast-changing world, it said.

Meanwhile, both leaders reaffirmed their long-standing defence and economic cooperation and agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the green and digital economies, artificial intelligence, energy resilience, connectivity, food security and combating transnational crime.

“The leaders agreed to build on the close people-to-people ties and cooperation in social development including through the Singapore-Thailand Civil Service Exchange Programme (CSEP) and the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Economic Relationship (STEER),” MFA said. 

During the retreat, both leaders also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation in social development, particularly in promoting the well-being of people of all ages. — Bernama