Transcript of Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's Monaco Info Interview on the Sidelines of the Cocktail Reception & Grant-Giving Ceremony Hosted by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, 30 November 2023

Interviewer (Sophie Deromedi): Thank you very much Your Excellency, to have accepted to give us some words. We would like to know what is your idea of the importance of the interaction between Singapore and Monaco?

Minister Vivian Balakrishnan: Both of us are very small states. Both of us are dependent on the sea. Both states need to face the world externally. Both our states need to invest in sustainability for our own long-term viability. This is not a theoretical or a virtue-signalling campaign. This is real. The similarities, the strategic outlook, the attitudes, and the way in which we view future challenges — Monaco and Singapore are virtually identical. His Serene Highness has been a champion, an advocate, a supporter, and patron of education, of research, and has been flying the flag high for decades. This is something which he does out of sincere commitment and belief. So every time he comes here, or anywhere in the world, it is a campaign which has strong resonance. We make common cause because of our similarities.

Deromedi: Thank you for always supporting us when we come with the (Prince Albert II of Monaco) Foundation in Singapore.

Minister: Thank you for supporting His Serene Highness and supporting Monaco and supporting the (Prince Albert II of Monaco) Foundation. This is all very important work.

Deromedi: Singapore is doing a lot of effort to be more and more eco responsible. How do you see the programme that we supported tonight, which is the Young Sustainability Champion programme from the Science Centre?

Minister: First, I think tonight represents an auspicious start. The Foundation of His Serene Highness is working with Temasek Foundation and our Science Centre. But beyond that, it is about working with young people. Young people have an even greater stake in a sustainable future. They have more years ahead of them in their life to come. The third aspect is that we are focusing on innovative ways to use technology and science to save the world and to embark on sustainable development. So it is this combination of a collaborative approach, working with young people, and using science to generate new innovative solutions. It is a very worthy cause. We are very glad to have hosted this event, with the attendance of His Serene Highness. Now let us look forward to what the young people will do with this opportunity.

Deromedi:  Thank you. In Singapore, the young people – you find them very involved in ecology?

Minister: Young people in Singapore are very fervent believers in sustainable development. It is something which the Government does not have to campaign for. This is a cause that young people believe in. What we are trying to do now is to direct that energy into generating practical solutions to address these long-term needs. I think this is the winning combination.

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