Singapore leaders send congratulatory letters to South Korean counterparts to mark 50 years of ties
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President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (left) extended his warmest wishes to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and the people of South Korea in a letter dated Aug 8.
PHOTOS: BRIAN TEO, REUTERS
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SINGAPORE - A shared interest in upholding free trade, multilateralism and the rules-based global order has been the foundation of 50 years of ties between Singapore and South Korea, the Republic’s leaders wrote in messages to their counterparts.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, addressing South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in a letter dated Aug 8, extended his warmest wishes to Mr Lee and the people of South Korea on the “auspicious occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries”.
Mr Tharman said Singapore and South Korea have built a “deep and abiding partnership” over the past 50 years, and said that links between people from the two countries grow stronger every year.
“Our shared interest in upholding free trade, multilateralism, and the rules-based international order, coupled with our strong investment and economic links, have laid a strong foundation for our ties,” added Mr Tharman.
He noted that Singapore and South Korea have growing cooperation in new areas like climate change, the green economy, the digital economy, food security, research and development, and artificial intelligence.
Mr Tharman said he is heartened that the two countries will be upgrading relations to a strategic partnership later in 2025
“I am confident that we will be able to take bilateral ties to greater heights in the years ahead,” he added.
Mr Tharman said he looked forward to meeting Mr Lee soon, and sent his best wishes to Mr Lee for his health and success.
The South Korean embassy in Singapore said in a statement on Aug 8 that with the elevation of bilateral relations later in 2025, Mr Lee looks forward to further strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Mr Lee also shared his hopes of Singapore and South Korea embarking on a new journey for the next century, said the statement.
In a separate letter dated Aug 8, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, addressing his South Korean counterpart, Mr Cho Hyun, said he is delighted that the two countries are marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
“This is a significant milestone,” he said.
Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore and South Korea are natural partners due to their shared interest in supporting free trade, multilateralism and a rules-based global order.
“We have similar strategic and regional outlooks. In this context, we have strengthened our engagement across existing and emerging sectors, and our people have forged closer ties through regular interactions,” he said.
He added that the upgrade of relations to a strategic partnership later in 2025 will pave the way for even closer collaboration in existing and emerging areas.
“I look forward to working together to continue to broaden and deepen ties between our two countries,” said Dr Balakrishnan.
He wished Mr Cho continued good health and success, adding that he looked forward to meeting Mr Cho soon.
Both sets of leaders exchanged congratulatory messages to mark the establishment of diplomatic ties between Singapore and South Korea on Aug 8, 1975.
