SINGAPORE - Thailand has given Singapore 10,000 Covid-19 test kits in a goodwill gesture reflecting the close bilateral friendship.

Thai Ambassador Suriya Chindawongse handed the kits over to the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*Star)'s director of the biomedical research council, Ms Amanda Ang, in a symbolic ceremony in A*Star's Fusionopolis office on Tuesday (Nov 17).

Dr Chindawongse said the gift was a reflection of the close friendship between Singapore and Thailand.

"Singapore is the first country to receive the kits, which are a small symbolic contribution in reflection of the solidarity between our two countries and peoples," he added.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had, at a Special Asean Summit in April, announced Thailand's offer of 10,000 test kits to each member state as a gesture of concrete cooperation amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

As part of a gradual reopening of the country's massive tourist industry, Thailand started issuing Special Tourist Visas (STV) from Oct 7.

Tuesday's handover of the test kits follows the recently concluded 37th Asean Summit on Nov 12, which took place via video conference.

During the virtual summit, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called for "vaccine multilateralism" as he stressed the importance of regional cooperation to mitigate the pandemic's long-term impact.

Dr Chindawongse on Tuesday reaffirmed Thailand's agreement on the need for regional cooperation in moving out of the pandemic through initiatives like vaccine multilateralism.

"Thailand and Singapore have been at the forefront in advancing regional efforts to address the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.

"I think that we can look forward to Asean having many more initiatives in cooperation."

"Thailand and Singapore have been at the forefront in advancing regional efforts to address the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.

"I think that we can look forward to Asean having many more initiatives in cooperation."