Official Visit of Prime Minister of New Zealand The Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, 17 May 2019

17 May 2019

Prime Minister of New Zealand The Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern is on her first Official Visit to Singapore. Prime Minister Ardern received a ceremonial welcome at the Istana this morning and called on President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Prime Minister Lee also hosted an official lunch in honour of Prime Minister Ardern. 

 

President Halimah and Prime Minister Ardern reaffirmed the excellent and longstanding ties between Singapore and New Zealand. They discussed ways to strengthen cohesion and inter-faith dialogue in diverse, multicultural societies such as Singapore and New Zealand. They agreed on the need to prepare our peoples for the future economy. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the importance of pursuing greater cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism. 

 

Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Ardern observed that bilateral relations were warm, with wide-ranging cooperation across many fields. Both Prime Ministers noted that Singapore and New Zealand shared similar strategic perspectives on free trade and a rules-based international order. Prime Minister Lee expressed appreciation for New Zealand’s longstanding support for the Singapore Armed Forces’ artillery training in Waiouru. Both Prime Ministers welcomed the good progress to deepen cooperation in new areas such as the digital economy. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the importance of deepening economic integration.

 

After their meeting, Prime Minister Ardern and Prime Minister Lee signed a Joint Declaration elevating our bilateral relations to an Enhanced Partnership (EP). Under the EP, both countries will embark on closer cooperation in trade and economics; security and defence; science, technology and innovation; and people-to-people links. Both Prime Ministers also witnessed the signing of the upgraded Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP). The upgraded ANZSCEP is a key component of the EP that modernises the original Agreement signed in 2000. In addition, Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Ardern witnessed the signing of four other Memoranda of Understanding on science, technology and innovation; cybersecurity; the arts; and business cooperation. The text of the Joint Declaration and the list of the EP initiatives is at Appendix.

 

Prime Minister Ardern will depart Singapore for New Zealand tonight. 

 

 

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Appendix

 

JOINT DECLARATION

BY THE PRIME MINISTERS OF NEW ZEALAND AND

THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

ON AN ENHANCED PARTNERSHIP

 

 

1. New Zealand and Singapore enjoy a strong and enduring friendship. Our countries are dynamic and outward-looking Asia-Pacific nations deeply committed to stable regional and global rules, and open, competitive markets. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations fifty-four years ago, relations between our countries have broadened and deepened. Our peoples have benefitted from the multi-faceted and mutually beneficial cooperation that has enhanced our security and prosperity.

 

 

2. Today, New Zealand and Singapore have formally elevated our bilateral relationship by concluding a new Enhanced Partnership. The Enhanced Partnership provides a framework to support bilateral cooperation in (i) trade and economics, (ii) security and defence, (iii) science, technology and innovation, and (iv) people-to-people links.

 

 

3. New Zealand and Singapore are committed to working together to advance our common interests and concerns. We look forward to meeting regularly, including alongside international meetings. We also support regular engagement by our ministers and officials.

 

 

4. To build prosperity through trade and economic connections, our two countries have agreed on an upgraded Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP). This improved trade agreement modernises the 2000 Agreement – Singapore’s first and New Zealand’s second bilateral free trade agreement – with, among other measures, new provisions on e-commerce, regulatory cooperation and enhanced cooperation in food safety.  Both countries will also explore strengthening cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital economy.

 

 

5. The Enhanced Partnership builds on long-standing defence cooperation to further strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperation. We have enhanced consultations through an annual Defence Ministers’ Meeting, and will establish a security and intelligence dialogue. We will also strengthen cooperation in security technology, and cybersecurity.

 

6. New Zealand and Singapore are developing a significant and enduring science, technology and innovation partnership to support long-term economic, environmental and social outcomes. We have concluded a Science, Technology and Innovation Arrangement supported by substantial joint funding to support world class science. This investment will establish high quality joint research programmes on Data Science and Future Foods to the benefit of both countries’ long-term strategic objectives. Both countries intend to expand the collaboration over time.

 

 

7. Strengthening people-to-people ties in support of tourism, business and learning is a key component of the Enhanced Partnership. Our citizens  have mutual access to each other’s self-processing immigration facilities at border checkpoints, and visitors will be able to stay 90 days in each country without having to apply for a visa in advance. Making our Working Holiday Schemes reciprocal will promote cultural exchanges by allowing more young people to experience each other’s countries. Working holiday makers will be able to undertake short-term work to supplement their holiday and cultural experiences. In addition, we will enhance cooperation in arts and culture, enhance training and exchanges between our civil services, and deepen collaboration between our education authorities.

 

 

8. A list of agreed bilateral cooperation initiatives for the Enhanced Partnership is at the Annex to this Joint Declaration.

 

 

9. This Joint Declaration on the Enhanced Partnership opens an exciting new chapter in New Zealand-Singapore relations. We are confident that the Enhanced Partnership will open new opportunities for our people to cooperate, for the common peace, stability and prosperity of our countries.

 

 

Signed in Singapore on the 17th day of May 2019

 

 

 

 

 

Annex

 

INITIATIVES FOR THE SINGAPORE-NEW ZEALAND ENHANCED

PARTNERSHIP

 

  

Trade and Economics

  • Upgrade of the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP)
    • Cover a comprehensive scope, including Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, Product Specific Rules, Technical Barriers to Trade, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation, Investment, and Competition and Consumer Protection.
    • Reflect modern trade rules by bringing it in line with newer Free Trade Agreements, to which Singapore and New Zealand are parties.
    • Include forward-looking elements in a new E-Commerce Chapter, and wide scope of cooperation in a new Regulatory Cooperation Chapter.
    • Include two new implementing arrangements on sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
  • Partnership for Growth Arrangement
    • Enterprise Singapore and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise will sign an Arrangement to promote strategic alliances between Singapore and New Zealand companies to help them expand their operations beyond their countries and build market knowledge, exchange expertise and develop business networks in both markets.
  • Food safety cooperation
    • Food safety authorities on both sides will cooperate in the development of international standards, including through the hosting of Codex working meetings.

     

Defence and Security

  • Defence
    • Singapore and New Zealand have established an annual Defence Ministers’ Meeting, Air Force-to-Air Force staff talks, as well as a Professional Military Learning Working Group and an Operations Working Group between the Singapore Armed Forces and New Zealand Defence Force to discuss cooperative initiatives.
    • The Singapore Armed Forces and New Zealand Defence Force will establish personnel and professional exchanges.
  • Safety and security
    • The Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs and New Zealand Defence Technology Agency will sign a Memorandum of Arrangement on cooperation in the area of Homeland Security Technology.
    • The Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs and New Zealand Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet have agreed to establish a Security and Intelligence Dialogue.
    • The Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs and New Zealand Institute for Environmental, Science and Research Limited have signed a Master Agreement to facilitate Science and Technology collaborations and exchanges in the area of Safety and Security.
  • Cybersecurity
    • The Singapore Cyber Security Agency and the New Zealand National Cyber Policy Office will sign an Arrangement on Cybersecurity Cooperation.Both sides have established an annual Cybersecurity Dialogue.

     

Science, Technology and Innovation

  • Science, Technology and Innovation Arrangement
    • The Singapore National Research Foundation and New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will sign an Arrangement to underpin deeper connections between the science and innovation systems of both countries. A joint programme will sit under the Arrangement, starting with high value collaborations in Data Science and Future Foods.
    • Both governments will contribute significant funding to support jointly beneficial science research, technology and innovation.

 

People-to-People

  • Mutual access to self-processing passport facilities
    • Singapore and New Zealand citizens who meet eligibility criteria will have mutual access to each other’s self-processing immigration facilities at our respective checkpoints: Singapore’s enhanced Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS) and New Zealand’s “eGate’’ system.
  • Improved visa conditions
    • Singapore and New Zealand citizens will enjoy reciprocal visa-free stay in each other’s countries for 90 days.

     

  • Working Holiday Scheme
    • Singapore and New Zealand will establish a reciprocal Working Holiday Scheme, for young people in Singapore and New Zealand to undertake short-term work while holidaying in each other’s countries, to supplement their experiences.
  • Education
    • The Singapore Ministry of Education and New Zealand Ministry of Education have signed an Arrangement on Education Cooperation to encourage and facilitate the exchange of information on their respective education systems in the areas of preschool education, primary and secondary education, vocational and technical training, and higher education.
  • Arts and culture
    • The Singapore National Arts Council and Creative New Zealand will sign an Arrangement of Understanding to encourage wider interaction between the arts sectors of the two countries to build long-term networks and working relationships.
    • The National Museum of Singapore and New Zealand’s Te Papa Museum will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore collaboration in heritage matters, including in areas such as capability development and training, exhibition and loan exchanges, and the sharing of technology, information and innovation.
    • The National Library Board of Singapore and the National Library of New Zealand have signed a MOU on sharing of information, regular exchanges and pursuit of innovation in digital access, including on shared history.
    • Singapore and New Zealand will continue to explore opportunities in screen sector talent development (e.g. post-production internships and talent/project incubators) and activities aimed at increasing official co-production activity under the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore concerning the Co-production of Films.
  • Public Service exchanges
    • The Civil Services of Singapore and New Zealand have exchanged letters on strengthening ties through regular Centre of Government exchanges.
    • The Singapore Civil Service College and the Australia-New Zealand School of Government have signed a MOU on promoting exchanges and cooperation in the area of capacity building of public officials.
    • The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs will offer a post-graduate scholarship for one eligible New Zealand official per year.
    • The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs will invite New Zealand officials to participate biennially in its Programme for Foreign Diplomats, while the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will invite Singapore officials to participate in its Young ASEAN Diplomats Study Tour.

 

 

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