Singapore (CU)_ At a reception honoring Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, the Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat stated that the relationship between Singapore and the United Kingdom will continue to expand from strength to strength. Mr. Heng, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, congratulated the Queen. He said, “On behalf of the Government and people of Singapore, I convey our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Her Majesty on this joyous occasion of her Platinum Jubilee”.
According to him, “The queen’s reign has been marked by a steely and steadfast dedication to serve the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth”. He noted that as the Queen is the first British monarch to reach this milestone, it is a unique and historic occasion that deserves a huge celebration. Mr. Heng said that the relationship between the two nations dates back to over two centuries and that generations of Britons have contributed to Singapore’s development.
Mr. Heng added, “Some of the more notable legacies are the constitutional, administrative, and judicial systems that the British set up, as well as the use of the English language. These systems continue to be pillars of strength for Singapore even as we evolve them to suit our context. The use of English as the working language in Singapore has given us an advantage. It serves as a common language in our multilingual, multiracial society”.
According to Mr. Heng, the UK-Singapore free trade deal and the UK-Singapore digital economy pact signed earlier this year have strengthened the economic ties between the two nations in recent years. He said, “Both Singapore and the UK are also close collaborators on innovation and R&D. Our partnership was further strengthened with the Singapore-UK Bilateral Co-Innovation Programme, inked last year”.
Under the initiative, Enterprise Singapore and Innovate UK will support breakthrough projects in sectors such as advanced production, agri-food technology, and cybersecurity between the two nations. Mr Heng said, “As we celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, I have every confidence that our partnership will continue to grow from strength to strength”.
