SINGAPORE - Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have written to their Indian counterparts to convey their congratulatory messages as India celebrates its 70th Independence Day on Monday (Aug 15), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Writing to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee to extend his heartfelt congratulations, Dr Tan noted that relations between Singapore and India remain strong and look set to grow despite challenges in the global economy.
"As our people-to-people relations flourish, I am delighted by the excellent progress in bilateral projects and initiatives on various fronts, including trade, skills development, defence cooperation, and Smart Cities development," he said.
"The India-Singapore Strategic Partnership, together with other bilateral agreements, will create new opportunities for collaboration and elevate the bilateral relationship to a higher level," he added.
Dr Tan also recalled the "fond memories of the warm hospitality" he received when he visited India last February, adding that he looked forward to receiving Mr Mukherjee in Singapore in the near future.
In his letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Lee noted the "longstanding friendship" the two countries share that have been "underpinned by strong historical, commercial, cultural and kinship ties".
"The India-Singapore Strategic Partnership signed during your visit to Singapore last November is a further sign of our excellent relations," he said. "It also provides a road map for cooperation in many fields: trade and investment, skills development, defence cooperation, and Smart Cities."
He added that he was confident that bilateral ties between the two countries "will continue to grow and deepen".
Wishing Mr Modi "continued good health and every success", he said he was looking forward to meeting him during his visit to India in October, where he hopes to "explore new avenues of cooperation".
