Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to France, 22 February 2022

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan participated in the Ministerial Forum on Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in Paris on 22 February 2022. He co-chaired a roundtable discussion on Connectivity and Digital Issues alongside European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen. The Forum was hosted by France in its capacity as the President of the Council of the European Union.

At the roundtable, Minister Balakrishnan spoke about the transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world, the need for interoperable, common and open standards whilst protecting privacy amidst the digital revolution, and the shared challenge of the global commons. Our digital interactions must be based on trust, protection of privacy, cybersecurity and inclusion. Minister Balakrishnan also reiterated Singapore’s grave concern with the escalation of tensions at the Ukraine-Russia border, and the Russian decision to recognise two breakaway Ukrainian regions. The independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected. Minister Balakrishnan hoped that all parties would be able to make some movement towards peaceful settlement in accordance with international law. Minister Balakrishnan’s opening and closing remarks are appended.

Minister Balakrishnan will meet counterparts from India and Netherlands on the sidelines of the Forum later today.

Minister Balakrishnan will depart Paris for Singapore on 23 February 2022. 

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

22 FEBRUARY 2022

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MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN’S OPENING AND CLOSING REMARKS AT THE ROUNDTABLE ON CONNECTIVITY AND DIGITAL ISSUES AT THE MINISTERIAL FORUM ON COOPERATION IN THE INDO-PACIFIC IN PARIS, 22 FEBRUARY 2022  

Opening Remarks

1            Thank you, Commissioner Urpilainen.I thank France for organising the Forum and giving us a chance to participate. I am going to just make three quick points. First, we are transiting from a unipolar moment to a multipolar world. Second, it is about the digital technology. Third, the issue of the global commons.

2            On the first point, if we needed a reminder that this was a multipolar world, I think we just had that last night. The situation along the Ukraine-Russia border shows that other poles are live as well. The more important point I wanted to emphasise is that in this multipolar world, the EU (European Union) is a critical pole. What happens in the EU’s front yard or backyard has got salience for us in Southeast Asia.We, in Singapore, remain gravely concerned with the escalation of tensions at the Ukraine-Russia border, and the Russian decision to recognise two breakaway Ukrainian regions. The reason we are concerned is because the independence, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected. That is the way we hope, would be a universal norm applied across the world, and especially in our part of the world. We hope that all parties will be able to make some movement towards peaceful settlement in accordance with international law – another crucial ingredient for engaging with our part of the world, and to avoid actions that will further raise tensions. On this score, I also want to remind the EU, that you were in Southeast Asia first for centuries, and you continue to have significant equities and significant goodwill – you do not really need to reinvent a new vehicle. But it is (about) rediscovering your old ties, your reservoirs of goodwill, and your head start.

3            Second, on digital, I wanted to make a point that I believe that the digital revolution is probably going to be as profound and impactful on the distribution of global prosperity and politics as the Industrial Revolution. I think the only reason I am speaking English today is because the Industrial Revolution began in Europe. If you believe that artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, and biotechnology are going to transform economics, and the social fabric of our society, then this is a big thing. For us, ensuring interoperability and common and open standards, whilst protecting privacy– this is something the Europeans are concerned with. I think allowing us to achieve that kind of regime is absolutely crucial. Of course, it also refers to investments in hardware, connectivity, submarine cables, and equally important, education and training, in order to create opportunities for our people.

4            My third and final point is on global commons, climate change, pandemic preparations, and the larger and deeper political issues confronting all of us on managing inequality in the midst of a new technological revolution – a common challenge. There again is an opportunity for us to exchange notes, learn with, and work with the EU.

5            So thank you very much, and I look forward to a productive discussion. Please be robust and frank and lets have a fruitful session together. Thank you all.

Closing Remarks

1          Thank you excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. We had an excellent, free-ranging discussion at our roundtable with Commissioner Urpilainen. We had a very good discussion. I just want to quickly run through some key points.

2          The digital economy and the transformation that it is going to effect across the world is one giant opportunity, especially for the EU to pursue in the Indo-Pacific. The points however, are that there are some attributes which are absolutely essential – trust, protection of privacy, cybersecurity and inclusion. In order to achieve an interaction and a system for the future which includes these attributes, we discussed the need for high quality infrastructure. We (also) discussed the need for finance, proper market due diligence for financing for infrastructure, the need for digital systems both in Europe and the Indo-Pacific to be able to interoperate in order to maximise value from our systems, the need for continued investments in connectivity, including more submarine cables and the security of submarine cables, and the legal regimes that protect the sanctity of this hardware.

3          We also emphasised the need for partnerships. On this note, let me give you an idea of some of the partnerships which I am familiar with coming from Singapore. We have concluded the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement with partners like Australia, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom. These establish a framework for Government-to-Government cooperation, to shape international rules and benchmarks, to ensure interoperability in areas which are important for cross-border digital transactions and to establish common understanding on standards and governance models. This is particularly important when you deal with emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.

4          We also have signed a pathfinder plurilateral agreement. We have established common rules with digital trade to foster cooperation on emerging digital economy issues with Chile and New Zealand. I should add that this small plurilateral agreement with three small countries has now attracted the attention of a certain large neighbour in Asia. It just shows you that the sky is the limit. We look forward to concluding the Digital and Emerging Technologies Partnership with France. I am pleased that Singapore and the EU are working towards a comprehensive and forward looking digital partnership. We hope to see more cooperation towards a global architecture that is open, inclusive, interoperable, meets the needs of diverse stakeholders, and most important, based on trust and win-win paradigms. On that note, let me thank all the Ministers who participated in the roundtable, and the Commissioner (Urpilainen) for facilitating our excellent discussion. Thank you very much.

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Photo Caption: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris on 22 February 2022

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Photo Caption: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan co-chairing the Roundtable on Digital and Connectivity at the Ministerial Forum on Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in Paris on 22 February 2022

Photo Credit: France Diplomatie