Official Visit by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to the United Arab Emirates, 21-22 October 2023

Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong was received by United Arab Emirates (UAE) President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi today. Following a ceremonial Welcome Ceremony, PM Lee called on President Sheikh Mohamed who also hosted lunch in PM’s honour.

PM Lee and President Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the excellent bilateral relations and the strong cooperation under the Singapore – UAE Comprehensive Partnership (SUCP) signed during then-Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed’s visit to Singapore in February 2019. The leaders noted the positive outcomes of the 14^th Abu Dhabi Singapore Joint Forum (ADSJF) and the 3^rd Singapore – UAE Joint Committee (SUJC) which were held earlier this year. As small states and hubs in our respective regions, Singapore and the UAE share a mutual interest in promoting multilateralism and a rules-based world order. PM Lee and President Sheikh Mohamed agreed that there was scope to do more in emerging areas such as the green and digital economies.

PM Lee welcomed the UAE’s interest to join the Digital Economic Partnership Agreement (DEPA) to enable further collaboration in digital trade. PM Lee conveyed Singapore’s support for the UAE’s hosting of the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP-28) later this year. Both leaders looked forward to closer collaboration in the area of global climate action and the multilateral process. PM Lee and President Sheikh Mohamed also exchanged views on regional and international developments including the recent tensions in the Middle East.

PM Lee and President Sheikh Mohamed witnessed the exchange of MOUs and agreements in the areas of green economy, climate change, education, digital government, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and halal food certification. The list of MOUs and agreements is at Annex A.

Separately, PM Lee was hosted to lunch by UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai. They noted the good people-to-people links between Singapore and Dubai and had a productive discussion on ways to strengthen cooperation.

PM Lee will meet Abu Dhabi Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan later this afternoon and attend a reception for Overseas Singaporeans.  

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

22 OCTOBER 2023

Annex A – List of MOUs and Agreements

a)  Green Economy Framework Agreement

b) MOU on Environmental Protection and Climate Change

c) MOU on Recognition of Halal Certificates and Areas of Cooperation

d) MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Education

e) MOU on Cooperation in the Fields of Low-Carbon Solutions and Energy Efficiency

f) MOU on Cooperation in Digital Government

g) MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Artificial Intelligence

h) MOU on Cybersecurity Cooperation

i) Joint Statement on Climate Cooperation (text at Annex B)

Annex B – Singapore-UAE Joint Statement on Climate Cooperation

Singapore-UAE Joint Statement on Climate Cooperation

1. The two Leaders recognized the urgent need to keep the 1.5℃ temperature goal of the Paris Agreement within reach and will continue to cooperate and work with other Parties to achieve successful outcomes at the 28^th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Both Leaders also reaffirmed their willingness to continue working bilaterally and in the multilateral arena centred around the UNFCCC processes to ensure effective implementation of both countries' respective 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions and net-zero emission goals by 2050, while fast-tracking a just energy transition and promoting a supportive and open international economic system.

2. Both Leaders urged all Parties to ensure the success of the first Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement at COP28 and commit to securing the most ambitious outcomes across mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation and support. These outcomes must contribute towards a just and equitable transition that enables global resilience, prosperity, and growth for all, and assess gaps and identify pathways to overcome them.

3. Both Leaders reaffirmed that the delivery of financial commitments is key to restoring trust and faith within the multilateral process on climate change. On this matter, they highlighted the importance of commitments made in 2009 by the developed countries to jointly mobilize USD 100 billion of climate finance per year to address the needs of the developing countries, the need to double adaptation finance for developing countries by 2025, and the need for future ambition to enhance annual climate finance through public and private sources, while ensuring access and affordability, through a stronger political signal on the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance.

4. Both Leaders reiterated their concern at the scale of impacts associated with the adverse effects of climate change that are already resulting in economic and non-economic losses and damages, and are being witnessed globally especially by the most vulnerable. Both Leaders will support the successful implementation of Decision 2/CMA.4 to operationalize new funding arrangements, including a fund, for assisting developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to loss and damage.

5. Both Leaders recognized the need to deliver a robust framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation, backed by sufficient support to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerability of developing countries.

6. Both Leaders emphasized the importance of mobilizing new finance to protect and sustainably use nature and forests, including mangroves, in critical basins, in line with national plans and priorities.

7. Both Leaders recognized the need to progress on issues such as carbon markets and will continue working with Parties to ensure operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement at COP28 and beyond.