Singapore - Thai PM toasts 'enduring' ties with Singapore

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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