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Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Statements

Official Visit of Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon, 4 May 2026

Country

New Zealand

4 May 2026

Official Visit of Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon, 4 May 2026

Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong and Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon held the inaugural Singapore-New Zealand Annual Leaders’ Meeting in Singapore on 4 May 2026.

The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the warm and longstanding relations between Singapore and New Zealand, underpinned by the New Zealand-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) launched in October 2025. They welcomed the good progress in bilateral cooperation across the six pillars of the CSP, namely Trade and Economics; Defence, Security, and Safety; Science, Technology, and Innovation; People-to-People; Climate Change and Green Economy; and Supply Chains and Connectivity. As trusted partners with a shared strategic outlook, Singapore and New Zealand have embarked on many pathfinding initiatives to advance common strategic priorities, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), the Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership as well as the Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA) which is currently under negotiation. The Prime Ministers also discussed enhancing cooperation between ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum during Singapore and New Zealand’s respective Chairmanships in 2027. They also reaffirmed the deep and extensive defence and security relationship between Singapore and New Zealand and welcomed further cooperation in forward-looking areas under the CSP.

Following the Annual Leaders’ Meeting, the Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES) – the world’s first legally-binding bilateral supply chain resilience agreement. It underscores Singapore’s and New Zealand’s commitment to facilitate bilateral trade flows even in times of supply chain disruptions. Both sides have committed not to impose unnecessary export restrictions on agreed essential supplies, including food, fuel, healthcare, chemical, and construction products. The AOTES factsheet prepared by the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry is at Annex A.

The Prime Ministers welcomed the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on healthcare cooperation, which will strengthen exchange of knowledge and best practices in areas such as pandemic preparedness and supply chain resilience for healthcare supplies. They also welcomed the conclusion of the Implementing Arrangement on the Use of Electronic Certification for Trade in Food and Primary Products, which will streamline agri-food trade certification processes.  

The full text of the Prime Ministers’ Joint Statement is appended at Annex B.

Prime Minister Wong and Prime Minister Luxon delivered the opening address at the Singapore-New Zealand Leadership Forum in the morning. Prime Minister Wong encouraged businesses from Singapore and New Zealand to deepen their commercial links and develop innovative solutions together. He also encouraged more New Zealand businesses to use Singapore as a base to expand into the greater Southeast Asia region.

Prime Minister Wong will host an official lunch for Prime Minister Luxon on 4 May. Prime Minister Luxon will meet Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng and call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on 5 May.


.     .     .     .     .


MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

SINGAPORE 

4 MAY 2026

Annex A

Factsheet on Singapore-New Zealand Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES)

 

  1. Singapore and New Zealand signed an Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES) on 4 May 2026 at the Singapore-New Zealand Annual Leaders’ Meeting in Singapore.


  1. The Agreement was signed by Singapore Minister-in-charge of Energy, Science and Technology Dr Tan See Leng, and New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay. The signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.


Key Features


  1. The AOTES reflects both countries’ longstanding commitment to uphold free and unimpeded trade. It is the world’s first legally-binding bilateral supply chain resilience agreement. It will be incorporated into the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP) – the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Singapore and New Zealand.


  1. Under the Agreement, Singapore and New Zealand commit not to impose unnecessary export restrictions on agreed essential supplies, including food, fuel, healthcare, chemical and construction products.


  1. The Agreement also establishes a framework for both countries to facilitate the movement of goods, share information and engage in consultations before or during supply chain disruptions.


  1. This will provide businesses and consumers on both sides with greater confidence and stability during supply chain disruptions. 


  1. Following signing, the Agreement will enter into force upon the completion of domestic procedures on both sides.


.    .    .    .    .

 

 

For media enquiries, please contact:

Lu Huijun

Senior Assistant Director, Communications and Engagement Division 

Ministry of Trade and Industry 

lu_huijun@mti.gov.sg


Annex B


JOINT STATEMENT BY SINGAPORE AND NEW ZEALAND AT THE 1ST SINGAPORE-NEW ZEALAND ANNUAL LEADERS’ MEETING

 

4 MAY 2026

 

1.    Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held the inaugural Singapore-New Zealand Annual Leaders’ Meeting in Singapore. The Annual Leaders’ Meeting was launched as part of the New Zealand-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2025.


2.    The Leaders reaffirmed the excellent state of our bilateral relations, underpinned by deep mutual trust, shared strategic interests and a shared commitment to an open and inclusive international order. As small, open, outward-looking economies, we are strong advocates for a stable, resilient and rules-based global system underpinned by international norms and rules that support the free movement of goods and people. These are vital for the prosperity and security of our people and our region.


Responding to the fuel crisis


3.    Recognising the significant economic impacts of the current Middle East crisis, we called on the parties to uphold their commitment to the ceasefire and work to find a permanent negotiated solution to this conflict.


4.    We reaffirmed the importance of upholding the right of transit passage in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as all other Straits Used for International Navigation, in accordance with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Leaders called for the unconditional, unrestricted, and immediate re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the bedrock of international trade.


5.    The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is having a significant impact on global supply chains, particularly on oil, gas and petrochemical products as well as essential goods and critical downstream derivatives such as fertilizers and plastics for packaging. These impacts are being felt heavily in the Indo-Pacific and Pacific regions.


6.    Leaders reiterated their determination that we will support each other through this crisis. In this context, they agreed to the following:

  • We will refrain from imposing trade-restrictive measures on essential goods. We have demonstrated this by signing our world-first Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES).

  • We will ensure that trade lines remain open, including via land routes, air and sea freight, to facilitate the flow of energy supplies, including petroleum oils, and other essential goods. We call on other trading partners to join us in ensuring global energy supply chains are kept open.

  • We task officials to stay in close contact on our respective fuel management plans and how best to support each other, including through the Supply Chain Working Group.


Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

 

7.    In the midst of increasing global uncertainty, the Leaders recognised the importance of working with trusted friends and partners. In this context, Singapore and New Zealand elevated our bilateral relationship to a CSP in 2025. The CSP is a forward-looking and ambitious framework to advance collaboration in areas such as supply chain resilience, digital economy, and green transition to ensure our partnership remains relevant and responsive to evolving global challenges. The Leaders commended the strong progress of initiatives under the CSP.


8.    The Leaders welcomed the signing of the AOTES. The AOTES is the first-of-its-kind, legally binding bilateral agreement to enhance supply chain resilience and to help ensure the continued flow of essential supplies, including food, fuel, chemicals, construction and healthcare products. This will provide consumers and companies with greater confidence and stability. This is especially pertinent amidst the multiple disruptions to global supply chains. Leaders tasked officials to explore opportunities for further cooperation on fuel supply.


9.    The Leaders also reaffirmed the importance of strengthening economic collaboration and business ties and welcomed the successful hosting of the Singapore-New Zealand Leadership Forum. The Forum brought together top industry leaders from both New Zealand and Singapore to discuss topics relevant to the economic and business environment, and to enhance economic, policy and business linkages between the two countries. The Prime Ministers encouraged business leaders to stay connected and continue their dialogue.


10. The Leaders welcomed new collaborative initiatives including signature of the Implementing Arrangement on the use of Electronic Certification for Trade in Food and Primary Products to streamline agri-food trade certification processes and enhance efficiency for businesses in both countries, and progress under the recently launched Strategic Food Partnership that aims to strengthen food security and enhance supply chains.


11. The Leaders also welcomed the five-year Memorandum of Understanding on healthcare cooperation signed by our Ministries of Health. This supports information sharing in areas such as pandemic preparedness and supply chain resilience for healthcare supplies.


12. The Leaders welcomed the collaboration between the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority to facilitate equity market connectivity and explore a mutual recognition regime for prospectuses. This would make it easier for issuers in both markets to access and raise capital in both jurisdictions in a more streamlined fashion, which would support innovation and economic growth.


13. On defence cooperation, the Leaders were pleased to note that Singapore and New Zealand have made good progress on strengthening our close and long-standing defence relationship in line with the commitments under the CSP, to ensure that it remains strategically relevant and fit for the future. There is clear desire and intent on both sides to expand our cooperation into new and emerging areas, as our militaries operate more common platforms and face similar challenges. In particular, both Leaders commended good progress in the areas of uncrewed capabilities and the exploration of new plans and modalities for training exercises such as Exercise Thunder Warrior. Both Leaders look forward to seeing this develop further.

 

Trade

 

14. The Prime Ministers noted the deep trade and economic cooperation between Singapore and New Zealand, underpinned by the bilateral Singapore-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (SNZCEP) which entered into force 25 years ago this year. The SNZCEP has grown two-way trade and contributed to the economic wellbeing of both countries. They affirmed our shared determination to strengthen the WTO and the rules-based multilateral trading system. They also acknowledged the unique value of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), where Singapore and New Zealand collaborate closely.


15. The Prime Ministers also welcomed progress negotiating the Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA), as a new frontier of cooperation between New Zealand, Singapore and other partner countries to unlock the trade and investment opportunities of a low-carbon future. The GEPA aims to develop convergence towards common rules and standards in the green economy. This will facilitate green economy opportunities, lower compliance costs for businesses, and also encourage investment in technological innovation in areas like low-emissions fuels and sustainable, productive and resilient food systems.


16. The Leaders underscored the value of the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT Partnership) as a strong platform for like-minded, pro-trade partners to collaborate on strengthening the rules-based trading system. Together we are advancing open and fair trade, ensuring secure and resilient supply chains, and advancing digital and paperless trade.


17. Both countries welcomed the upgrade of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and will continue to work together on the ongoing implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. New Zealand and Singapore support the expansion of existing agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), RCEP and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) to include economies that are willing and able to fully adhere to the agreements’ high standards. 

 

Regional and global

 

18. In our respective capacities as the incoming Chairs of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and ASEAN in 2027, the Leaders agreed to explore ways to enhance ASEAN-PIF relations and foster inter-regional cooperation. The Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent as well as the ASEAN Community Vision 2045: Resilient, Innovative, Dynamic and People-Centred ASEAN and its Strategic Plans, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). Singapore also welcomes New Zealand becoming a Comprehensive Strategic Partner of ASEAN last year.


19. The Prime Ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. They underscored Singapore and New Zealand’s commitment to international law, including UNCLOS, and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, and reaffirmed both countries’ respect for the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of all states. In this vein, the Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to working together to strengthen the United Nations and support a resilient, rules-based multilateral system that underpins global stability and prosperity.


20. The Leaders reaffirmed their resolve to navigate the future together, in line with the vision set out in the CSP, to shape a resilient and forward-looking partnership that benefits our nations, our peoples and our region.


.    .    .    .    .




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