Press Statements, Transcripts & Photos

The Global Governance Group (3G) welcomes the outcomes of the virtual Group of Twenty (G20) Riyadh Summit held from 21 to 22 November 2020. The 3G further welcomes the G20’s reiteration of its commitment to galvanise global actions and multilateral cooperation to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and to lead the world in shaping a strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive post-COVID-19 era. We also commend the G20’s resolve to address other issues of global concern, including climate change, energy access, digitalisation, international taxation, debt suspension, sustainable development, employment, inequalities, and the empowerment of women, children and other vulnerable groups.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan spoke at Estonia and UAE's Virtual Global Business Summit on 16 December 2020. This is a transcript of his speech.

A Singapore-registered commercial oil tanker, BW RHINE, anchored at the Port of Jeddah, was reported to be damaged in the early hours of 14 December 2020. This resulted in a small fire and hull damage but none of the vessel’s 22 crew members were injured and there were no Singaporeans on board. Singapore condemns all attacks on commercial vessels which pose a serious threat to the security and safety of international maritime navigation and trade.

Permanent Secretary Chee and Vice Minister Dung reaffirmed the excellent state of the Strategic Partnership between Singapore and Vietnam. They expressed appreciation for the mutual support rendered amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Both parties also reviewed Singapore and Vietnam’s wide-ranging and substantive cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, finance, transport, labour, food and agriculture, technical assistance, and defence and security. They agreed that there were opportunities to expand our cooperation in emerging areas such as start-ups and innovation, digital economy, legal and judicial cooperation, cybersecurity, and Smart Nation initiatives.

           Minister-delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness of France Franck Riester was hosted to lunch by Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Foreign Affairs and Transport Chee Hong Ta...