Official Visit of Vice President of the United States of America Kamala D. Harris, 22 to 24 August 2021

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hosted Vice President of the United States of America (US) Kamala D. Harris at the Istana earlier today. Vice President Harris was accompanied by senior officials from the Vice President’s Office, National Security Council and Department of State.

2 Following an Official Welcome Ceremony, a new orchid hybrid, the Papilionanda Kamala Harris, was named in Vice President Harris’s honour. A factsheet on the orchid is at Appendix I. Vice President Harris made a courtesy call on President Halimah Yacob, and met with Prime Minister Lee, followed by a delegation meeting involving Singapore Ministers and senior US officials. Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris also held a Joint Press Conference.

3 President Halimah and Vice President Harris affirmed the strong and broad-based Singapore-US relationship. They welcomed the expansion of bilateral cooperation to address pressing global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. They also discussed the close educational and people-to-people ties between Singapore and the US.

4 Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris affirmed the longstanding and multi-faceted partnership between Singapore and the US. They also welcomed the announcement of new areas of cooperation as we commemorate the 55^th anniversary of Singapore-US relations.

5 Both sides underscored the robust Singapore-US defence relationship, anchored by the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (1990 MOU) Regarding United States Use of Facilities in Singapore, the 2005 Strategic Framework Agreement, which recognised Singapore as a Major Security Cooperation Partner, and the 2015 Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, which expanded defence collaboration across traditional and non-conventional security areas, and laid out new areas of cooperation, including in cyber defence and biosecurity. The 2019 Protocol of Amendment to the 1990 MOU allowed continued US military access to Singapore’s air and naval bases for another 15 years. Prime Minister Lee offered the deployment of the RSAF’s Multi-Role Tanker Transporters (MRTT) to assist in US efforts related to the Afghanistan evacuation.

6 Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris also noted the excellent bilateral economic relationship. The US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) continues to be a high-performing FTA which has generated substantial benefits for businesses and workers in both countries. Since the USSFTA’s entry into force in 2004, bilateral trade in goods has more than doubled. The US also remains Singapore’s top trading partner in services and Singapore’s largest foreign direct investor.

7 Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris welcomed the announcement that both countries are working to launch a new US-Singapore Partnership for Growth and Innovation. The Partnership will strengthen bilateral and regional collaboration on trade and investment, beginning with the four pillars of digital economy, energy and environmental technologies, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. This initiative signifies our shared commitment to strengthen growth and innovation in key economic areas. It builds on the US-Singapore Collaboration Platform MOU which was renewed in 2018. Both sides agreed to work towards concluding discussions on the Partnership later this year. Both sides also agreed to convene a high-level dialogue on supply chains, which will bring government and industry leaders together to discuss ways to strengthen supply chain resilience.

8 Both sides welcomed the announcement of a US-Singapore Climate Partnership. The Partnership will foster closer collaboration on climate action, environmental governance, sustainable development and low-carbon solutions. This will create opportunities for businesses and workers in green growth sectors. Key areas of cooperation include quality carbon credit markets, sustainable finance, energy transitions, clean energy infrastructure development, and sustainable transport. Both sides also looked forward to establishing consultations on green standards-setting, sustainable finance mobilisation, and financial sector climate and environmental risk management. More information on the new Climate Partnership is at Appendix II.

9 Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris welcomed the launch of two new programmes on “Smart Cities Professional Exchanges” and “Smart Cities Green Buildings Programme” in 2022. These programmes will facilitate closer collaboration and knowledge sharing between Singapore, the US and other ASEAN countries through the ASEAN Smart Cities Network. This will contribute to existing climate initiatives by helping cities become more sustainable through lowering emissions. Upscaling green digital solutions will also maximise the benefits of technology from the digital revolution.

10 Singapore and the US committed to working together to explore collaboration towards increasing regional preparedness and strengthening Southeast Asia’s collective ability to prevent, detect and respond to COVID-19 and future health security threats. This included epidemic intelligence and sequencing to identify new variants and provide early warning.

11 Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris also recognised the importance of deepening cooperation in non-traditional security domains. Both sides welcomed the expansion of bilateral cooperation on cybersecurity with the conclusion of three MOUs between the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), and respective US agencies. CSA and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will expand cooperation in critical technologies, as well as research and development. MAS and the US Department of the Treasury will enhance information sharing, capability development and joint cross-border cyber exercises. MINDEF/SAF’s MOU with the US Department of Defense will institutionalise cyber cooperation between the two defence establishments to help build mutual understanding and facilitate information-sharing and collaboration between trusted partners in capacity-building efforts. More information on the bilateral cybersecurity cooperation MOUs is at Appendix III.

12 Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris also discussed opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation in the field of space, and encouraged ongoing efforts to strengthen the international regime governing space activities.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

23 AUGUST 2021

Appendix I

FACTSHEET

Papilionanda Kamala Harris

Vanda Kulwadee Fragrance x Papilionanthe hookeriana

This spectacular hybrid is a robust and free flowering plant. It produces an upright inflorescence about 40 cm long and bears up to 12 well-arranged flowers, each measuring about 9 cm in width. The sepals and petals are purplish pink, adorned with prominent pink spots and tessellations. They are complemented beautifully with a magenta lip.

This orchid is named after The Honorable Kamala D. Harris, Vice President of the United States of America on 23 August 2021.

Issued by: National Parks Board
Issued on: 23 August 2021

For more information, please contact:

Chan Yang Sun

Senior Communications Executive

National Parks Board

Tel: +65 9299 3619

Appendix II

MEDIA FACTSHEET

United States-Singapore Climate Partnership

The United States (US) and Singapore have agreed to launch a US-Singapore Climate Partnership that will strengthen collaboration between the two countries on climate action, environmental governance, sustainable development, and low-carbon solutions.

This Partnership will create opportunities for businesses and workers in green growth sectors, including in energy transitions, clean energy infrastructure development, sustainable transport, sustainable finance, and quality carbon credits markets.

Climate change is a critical global challenge and a top priority for Singapore and the US. Both countries support global efforts to address this key challenge and are fully committed to implementing our commitments under the Paris Agreement and taking bold climate actions. We firmly believe that sustainability and economic growth can go hand in hand. By mainstreaming sustainability into the global economy, we can work together towards greater benefits and opportunities for Singapore, the US, and the region. 

In addition to the areas listed below, both countries will continue to explore opportunities to strengthen our collaboration in more areas of climate change and the green economy, in line with our mutual interests.

Potential areas of cooperation under the US-Singapore Climate Partnership

• Sustainable finance, including mobilisation of private capital for sustainable infrastructure; and financial sector climate and environmental risk management

• Energy transitions, including clean energy infrastructure development and sustainable transport

• Quality carbon credit markets

• Expert consultations on:

For more information, contact Athena D/O Michael, Senior Assistant Director (Communications & Engagement Division), Ministry of Trade and Industry (Athena_MICHAEL@mti.gov.sg).

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Appendix III

MEDIA FACTSHEET

Deepening Cybersecurity Cooperation between Singapore and the United States of America

• Singapore and the United States share deep mutual interests in enhancing cybersecurity cooperation, particularly as cybersecurity has become a key enabler for both countries to leverage the benefits of digitalisation to grow their economies and improve the lives of their peoples.

• Singapore and the United States will expand ongoing bilateral cooperation in cybersecurity-related issues, through the signing of three important memoranda of understanding. The details are in the Annexes. These include:

i. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America, on Cybersecurity Cooperation [Annex A]

ii. MOU between the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the United States Department of the Treasury on Cybersecurity Cooperation [Annex B]

iii. MOU between Department of Defense of the United States of America and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Singapore Concerning Cooperation in Cyberspace [Annex C]

• The signing of the aforementioned MOUs will be announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during the official visit of Vice President of the United States of America Kamala Harris on 23 August 2021.

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ANNEX A

MEDIA BACKGROUNDER – MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CYBER SECURITY AGENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE ON COOPERATION IN THE AREA OF CYBERSECURITY

A.  About the MOU on Cybersecurity Cooperation

• The MOU on Cybersecurity Cooperation between the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will enhance cooperation on cybersecurity. This is the second MOU on Cybersecurity Cooperation with CISA. The first MOU was signed in August 2016.

• The MOU will establish cooperation between CSA and CISA on a range of activities, including but not limited to the following:

i. Regular information exchange on cyber threat information;

ii. Coordination of response to cybersecurity incidents;

iii. Exchange of guidance on prevailing cybersecurity trends and best practices;

iv. Conducting joint cybersecurity training and exercises;

v. Raising awareness on cybersecurity among respective constituents; and

vi. Cooperation in capacity building activities.

• The MOU will expand into new areas of cooperation such as:

i. Critical technologies; and

ii. Research and development.

B.   MOU Signing Modalities

• The MOU will be pre-signed prior to the visit:

• The MOU will be pre-signed by Mr David Koh, Chief Executive, CSA, and Ms Jen Easterly, Director, CISA.

C.  For media enquiries, please contact:

Eileen Poh

Assistant Director

Communications and Engagement

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore

DID: +65 6461 7404

Email: eileen_poh@csa.gov.sg

ANNEX B

MEDIA BACKGROUNDER – MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE MONETARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ON CYBERSECURITY COOPERATION

A.    About the MOU on Cybersecurity Cooperation

• The MOU on cybersecurity cooperation between the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the United States Department of the Treasury (Treasury) cements the agencies’ commitment to maintain and strengthen bilateral institutional ties and enhance cooperation on cybersecurity.

• The MOU will enhance cooperation between the Treasury and MAS in the following areas:

i. Information sharing relating to the financial sector including cybersecurity regulations and guidance, cybersecurity incidents, and cybersecurity threat intelligence;

ii. Staff training and study visits to promote cooperation in the area of cybersecurity; and

iii. Competency-building activities such as the conduct of cross-border cybersecurity exercises.

B.    MOU Signing Modalities

• The MOU on Cybersecurity Cooperation between MAS and the Treasury has been signed on 11 August 2021 by Mr Vincent Loy, Assistant Managing Director (Technology), Monetary Authority of Singapore, and Mr Rahul Prabhakar, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection, United States Department of the Treasury.

C.    For media enquiries, please contact:

Jacqueline Ong

Deputy Director

Communications

Monetary Authority of Singapore

DID: +65 6229 9159

Email: jacqueline_ong@mas.gov.sg

ANNEX C

MEDIA BACKGROUNDER – MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE CONCERNING COOPERATION IN CYBERSPACE

A. About the MOU on Cooperation in Cyberspace

• The MOU between the Department of Defense of the United States of America (US DoD) and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Singapore (MINDEF) Concerning Cooperation in Cyberspace aims to institutionalise cyber cooperation between both defence establishments. Such cooperation and engagements are professionally valuable, and help to build mutual understanding, and facilitate info-sharing and collaboration between trusted partners in capacity-building efforts.

B. MOU Signing Modalities

• The MOU was signed on 20 August 2021 by Singapore’s Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong, Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino, and Commander of United States Cyber Command General Paul Nakasone.

C.    For media enquiries, please contact:

Soh Wei Na

Manager (Media Relations)

MINDEF Comms Organisation

Ministry of Defence

DID: +65 6307 5837

Email: Soh_Wei_Na@mindef.gov.sg