Official Visit of Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong to New Zealand, 9 to 11 October 2025

Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong is on an Official Visit to New Zealand from 9 to 11 October 2025. This is his introductory visit to New Zealand as Prime Minister.

On 9 October 2025, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hosted Prime Minister Wong to a dinner, where they exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the need to work together and uphold the rules-based international order. The following day, Prime Minister Wong had a delegation meeting with Prime Minister Luxon. The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the excellent bilateral relations and commemorated 60 years of strong diplomatic relations between Singapore and New Zealand. They welcomed the good progress in bilateral cooperation since the launch of the Enhanced Partnership in 2019.

Following the meeting, the two Prime Ministers held a Joint Press Conference to announce the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). The CSP sets the vision and direction for the next phase of our bilateral relations over the next decade, setting out a total of 72 initiatives spanning across six pillars of cooperation in: (a) Trade and Economics; (b) Defence, Security and Safety; (c) Science, Technology, and Innovation; (d) People-to-People; (e) Climate Change and Green Economy; and (f) Supply Chains and Connectivity. More broadly, the CSP lays out opportunities for joint collaboration in Southeast Asia and cooperation to strengthen the multilateral trading system.

Amidst the complexities of today’s international landscape, the CSP serves as the foundation for the continued cooperation of the two countries toward stability and prosperity, including through deeper dialogue on the challenges facing small states and a shared commitment to advance the interests of our peoples, our region, and the international community. The Joint Vision Statement of the CSP is at Annex.

Later today, Prime Minister Wong will visit Rocket Lab — New Zealand’s pioneering space company and a symbol of its cutting-edge capabilities in aerospace and satellite technology. Prime Minister Wong will also meet former Prime Minister John Key and attend a reception for Overseas Singaporeans based in New Zealand before departing for Singapore.

.     .     .     .     .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

10 OCTOBER 2025

Annex

Joint Vision Statement by the

Prime Ministers of Singapore and

New Zealand on a Comprehensive

Strategic Partnership

***

1.     As we mark 60 years of diplomatic relations, New Zealand and Singapore celebrate the strength and depth of our enduring partnership. Built on trust, shared strategic interests, and a commitment to cooperation, we look ahead with optimism as strategic partners and close, trusted friends.

2.     Grounded in a shared strategic outlook and a creative and pragmatic approach to global challenges, our collaboration has delivered tangible benefits to our people, our economies, and our engagement in regional and international institutions. Our partnership continues to be guided by innovation and a commitment to addressing emerging opportunities and challenges.

3.     As island nations in the Indo-Pacific, we are committed to a secure and prosperous region, underpinned by international norms and rules that ensure the free movement of goods and people. We remain strong advocates for regionalism and multilateralism as essential pathways to stability and prosperity, recognising that our futures are deeply connected to that of our wider region.

4.     Our partnership has long been anchored in robust defence and security cooperation, as well as our leadership in shaping progressive, pathfinder trade agreements. Since the launch of the New Zealand-Singapore Enhanced Partnership (EP) in 2019, our collaboration has expanded into new areas such as supply chains, the green economy, and science and technology – strengthened by our enduring people-to-people ties.

5.     In the spirit of this deep and evolving partnership, and on the occasion of the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations, New Zealand and Singapore have jointly decided to elevate our bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). This milestone includes a joint Plan of Action, spanning 10 years, with initiatives across six key pillars. As some initiatives may take longer to realise, we envision the Plan of Action will remain dynamic, adapting to evolving global developments and ensuring our partnership remains agile, resilient, and future-ready.

6.     In launching this CSP, we recognise the complexities of the geostrategic and geoeconomic environment, where the rules-based international order faces increasing pressure. This framework serves as the foundation for our continued stability and prosperity. We will increase dialogue on the challenges facing small nations, and reaffirm our commitment to shaping a future that advances the interests of our people, our region, and the international community.

Advancing Our Partnership

7.     The New Zealand-Singapore CSP builds on existing frameworks while driving new and ambitious areas of cooperation:

7.1.  Institutionalising Strategic Engagement: The CSP introduces new mechanisms for strategic dialogue between political leaders with Annual Leaders’ Meetings and public sector agency leaders at annual Centre of Government exchanges. A Strategic Economic Dialogue will facilitate discussions on bilateral, regional, and international economic issues. These new engagements will complement existing high-level dialogues, including the Defence Ministers’ and Senior Officials’ Meetings, and the annual Secretary-level New Zealand-Singapore Strategic Dialogue (2+2: Foreign Affairs and Defence).

7.2.  Strengthening Economic, Business and Policy Ties: The New Zealand-Singapore Leadership Forum in 2026 will bring together political, business, and other leaders to explore and progress key initiatives. Additionally, both countries will continue to support track I and track II ties between New Zealand and Singapore-based experts, and organise a separate Track 1.5 Dialogue.

7.3.  Expanding Pacific Cooperation: Recognising Singapore’s role as a Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Dialogue Partner and New Zealand’s role as a founding PIF member, we commit to supporting Pacific priorities and institutions, including the PIF as the region’s pre-eminent regional body. We will continue to work through existing regional dialogue architecture and pursue joint development initiatives and cooperation in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

7.4.  Strengthening ASEAN Collaboration: This year, New Zealand celebrates 50 years of dialogue relations with ASEAN and looks forward to the convening of the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Leaders’ Summit and associated events in October 2025. New Zealand’s ambition to establish a CSP with ASEAN is a demonstration of its enduring and deep commitment to the ASEAN regional architecture, and support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Under the bilateral CSP, New Zealand and Singapore will continue to explore opportunities for joint collaboration across ASEAN Member States including how we can jointly support Timor-Leste as it accedes to full membership. 

7.5.  Enhancing Multilateral Cooperation: We have a long history of collaboration in regional and multilateral settings, including in the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the Asia Pacific Economic Community (APEC), the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus, and Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). Under the CSP, we will explore deeper cooperation in support of the rules-based international system through enhanced multilateral dialogue focused on areas of shared interest, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS), oceans, climate change, trade, space, disarmament, and emerging technology issues.

Deepening Our Cooperation

8.     The New Zealand-Singapore CSP will strengthen collaboration under six pillars:

·      Trade and Economics;

·      Defence, Security, and Safety;

·      Science, Technology, and Innovation;

·      People-to-People;

·      Climate Change and Green Economy; and

·      Supply Chains and Connectivity.

9.     Trade and Economics: Trade is the foundation of our relationship — outside of ASEAN, we share more free trade agreements together than with any other partner. This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) — a trailblazer for subsequent regional and plurilateral agreements. The Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES), the first of its kind, will form part of the CEP.

10.   Under the CSP, we will strengthen implementation of the ASEAN Australia New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (P4).

11.  To help drive the next phase of our trade and economic relationship, we will work together to develop a plurilateral Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA), continue ongoing cooperation under DEPA, progress joint initiatives with like-minded partners such as the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT Partnership) as well as CPTPP dialogues with ASEAN and the European Union (EU). These efforts will affirm the rules-based trading system, set the pace for innovative trade rules and agreements, and deliver more opportunities for our exporters and business communities. We will encourage two-way investment, expand capital markets collaboration, and explore novel ideas such as the concept of a single economic market.

12.  Defence, Security, and Safety: Our defence partnership is extensive and long-standing – spanning many areas. In an era of rising geostrategic tensions and global uncertainty, enhancing our existing bilateral defence cooperation and exploring new initiatives will bolster our shared contributions to regional security, including through the FPDA and ADMM-Plus. We will also expand our national security cooperation, including on cyber security and emerging technologies, and increase engagement between the relevant authorities on border security, combatting transnational organised crime, and disaster and emergency management.

13.  Science, Technology, and Innovation: New Zealand and Singapore are both future-focused centres of research and innovation, and new cooperation under the CSP will see us build a more strategic science, technology, and innovation partnership to meet the needs of a changing world. We will work to leverage respective expertise to enable cutting-edge collaboration in emerging technologies. Greater connectivity between our science and innovation ecosystems will be facilitated through various modalities such as joint research programmes, institute-to-institute partnerships, workforce exchanges and mobility schemes, and leveraging strong relationship networks.

14.  People-to-people links: At the heart of our bilateral relationship are people-to-people ties. There is extensive cooperation under this pillar across the arts and culture, education, and public sectors. These areas will continue to be a focus under the CSP, alongside new cooperation between our Judiciaries. We will also explore knowledge exchange on digital identity initiatives.

15.  Climate Change and Green Economy: As small, advanced, innovative, and open economies, New Zealand and Singapore are well-placed to cooperate to find solutions that support our green objectives and drive economic growth. Under the CSP, we will work together to achieve our respective transitions to net zero and demonstrate regional leadership, such as cooperation on carbon markets, sustainable finance and investment, resource efficiency, nature restoration, sustainable agriculture, low and zero emissions fuels and decarbonising supply chains. New Zealand and Singapore share the ambition of developing innovative trade and investment rules and agreements to help spur green economic growth, and this drives our work together to develop the GEPA with likeminded partners.

16.  Supply Chains and Connectivity: Securing supply chains and ensuring connectivity are existential issues for trading nations such as ours, and for critical transhipment hubs such as Singapore. Under the CSP, we will build on our history of mutual reliability and strengthen supply chain cooperation including through the AOTES. We will establish a Strategic Food Partnership to deepen agri-food cooperation in trade, resilience and innovation.

Implementing the CSP

17.  A detailed Plan of Action will guide the implementation of the CSP over the next decade. This Plan will remain dynamic and responsive to our evolving strategic environment, ensuring adaptability to emerging challenges. Officials will conduct periodic reviews to track progress and uphold the strategic vision of our Partnership.

18.  This Joint Vision Statement heralds a new chapter in New Zealand-Singapore relations. Rooted in shared trust, innovation, and complementarity, the CSP reflects our commitment to shaping a resilient and forward-looking partnership that benefits our nations, our Indo-Pacific home region, and the wider world. The CSP aims to grow greater awareness amongst New Zealand and Singapore publics about the strength and value of our bilateral relationship.

19.  We reaffirm our resolve to navigate the future together, building on six decades of cooperation to chart a bold course for the years ahead.

Signed in Auckland on the 10^th day of October 2025

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Singapore:

Lawrence Wong

Prime Minister

On behalf of the Government of New Zealand:

Christopher Luxon

Prime Minister