On
her first official visit to Singapore yesterday, new Thai Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra toasted the "enduring relationship" between
Singapore and Thailand.
Both Ms Yingluck and Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong also signalled the two countries' commitment to deepen ties.
Speaking at a dinner at the Istana in her
honour last night, PM Lee said: "I am confident that our relationship will
continue to be fruitful and mutually beneficial. Singapore looks forward to deepening
our political, economic and cultural ties with Thailand."
Ms Yingluck said she looked forward to new
areas of cooperation between the two countries.
She cited, as did Mr Lee, the goal of an Asean
community by 2015 as one that both countries were working towards.
In his speech, Mr Lee noted the two countries'
ties from 1871, when Thai King Chulalongkorn visited Singapore.
"Over the years, our friendship has grown
deeper and stronger, underpinned by our shared interest and frequent
interactions," he said.
Economic ties are robust and mutually
beneficial, defence relations are long-standing, and even tourism between the
two countries is strong and growing: every year, half a million Singaporeans
visit Thailand, and 400,000 Thais visit Singapore, he said.
Earlier in the day, Ms Yingluck, elected
Thailand's first woman leader in July, called on President Tony Tan Keng Yam
for half an hour.
She then called on PM Lee and met him
privately before the official dinner, which was also attended by Thailand's
ambassador to Singapore, Mr Nopadol Gunavibool, the chairman of the Government
Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs Lim Wee Kiak, and Singapore's
ambassador to Thailand, Mrs Chua Siew San.
During his dinner toast, PM Lee extended his
condolences to Ms Yingluck and her people for the destruction and loss of lives
caused by the recent floods in Thailand.
"The Thai people have shown solidarity
and resilience in coping with this natural disaster," he said. "Under
your able leadership, I am confident that Thailand will emerge stronger from
this tragedy."
At their private meeting earlier in the day,
Ms Yingluck thanked Mr Lee for the Singapore Government's contribution of more
than S$1.33 million (US$1 million) worth of humanitarian aid during the flood,
said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.
She had planned to make her first visit to
Singapore - part of an introductory tour of Asean countries - two months ago,
but it was postponed by the flood crisis. She also had to cancel her scheduled
attendance at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Honolulu
last month.
In his speech, Mr Lee also highlighted
exchange programmes between the two countries that have strengthened their
personal friendships and links, such as the Singapore-Thailand Civil Service
Exchange Programme and the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Economic Relationship.
These bilateral programmes suffered a slight
hiccup in 2007, when Thailand's government, led by General Surayud Chulanont,
suspended them, as it was upset that former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra had
visited Singapore. They resumed in 2008 and have continued since.
Ms Yingluck is Mr Thaksin's younger sister.
In her toast, she thanked Singapore for its
hospitality and said she was "delighted"
with
the naming of an orchid in her honour at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Earlier in the day, she visited the Gardens to
see the orchid, named "Ascocenda Yingluck Shinawatra". Its petals are
orange-pink with purple tessellations.
She then toured the National Orchid Garden
amid slight drizzle, accompanied by National Parks Board deputy chief executive
Leong Chee Chiew, and Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang, among others.
She returned to Thailand last night after the
dinner.
Rachel Chang
The Straits Times
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