Joint Statement of 2nd United States-Singapore Strategic Partnership Dialogue

Following is the text of a joint statement by Singapore and the United States issued on 27 January 2014 in Singapore.

The Permanent Secretary of Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Chee Wee Kiong and United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Mr Daniel Russel met in Singapore on 27 January 2014 to co-chair the second United States - Singapore Strategic Partnership Dialogue. The dialogue served to enhance bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between the United States and Singapore. The co-chairs, in the spirit of equal partnership, mutual respect and desire to promote close cooperation, reviewed the robust array of initiatives undertaken between the two countries and sought new areas to create and expand cooperation in bilateral, regional and global matters of joint interest.

The co-chairs reviewed bilateral areas of engagement including economic and trade, defence and the US-Singapore Third Country Training Programme. They also discussed new areas of cooperation such as energy, climate change and sustainable development. The co-chairs discussed recent developments in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and regional institutions such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Both sides committed to actively seek ways to further utilise such institutions to address shared challenges confronting the region including water management and the environment. They affirmed the importance of regional peace and stability, maritime and aviation security, freedom and safety of navigation and overflight, as well as unimpeded, lawful commerce. They also emphasised the importance for all countries in the region to resolve their disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and urged all parties to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities. They continued to encourage ASEAN Member States and China to expeditiously work towards early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and urged all parties to pursue their claims peacefully and in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.
The co-chairs also reviewed regional initiatives including the Trans-Pacific Partnership where they renewed their commitment to achieving a mutually-beneficial, high-standard agreement that will contribute to establishing an open and inclusive trade and investment framework in the Asia-Pacific. The co-chairs also had further dialogue on areas of global cooperation.

Both sides noted the robust level of high-level visits between the two countries. These include the official visit of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to the United States in April 2013, the official visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam to the United States in March 2013, the official visit of Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen to the United States in December 2013 and the official visits to Singapore of United States Vice President Joseph Biden Jr in July 2013, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in June 2013, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in October 2013, Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew in November 2013 and United States Trade Representative Michael Froman in December 2013.

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