Singapore, 20 November 2021 (TDI): The Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien held a meeting with the Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S Jaishankar on Friday.  Jaishankar called on Prime Minister Hsien in Istana to discuss a variety of interests.

The Istana is the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. The English meaning of Istana is a palace. Foreign missions and diplomatic delegations meet the President or Prime Minister of Singapore at the Istana.

Indian Minister of External Affairs visited Singapore from 16 to 20 November 2021. The Minister will attend Bloomberg New Economy Forum.

During the meeting, the two discussed deepening the bilateral relationship between Singapore and India for mutual benefit. The two countries enjoy strong economic, defense, and people-to-people ties.

Singapore’s Prime Minister also emphasized the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery. The two also discussed matters of evolving regional and international issues, in the meeting.

Resumption of the Commercial Flights between the Partners

Singapore and India are also in talks to recommence the commercial flights between India and Singapore.

The Southeast Asian country is in talks with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to start 2 flights a day from Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai. Later, the Foreign Minister of India also met with the Transport Minister of Singapore.

The close relationship between Singapore and India has a historical background. The two collaborate in the fields of commercial, cultural, and people-to-people ties. The modern relationship between the two is attributed to Sir Stamford Raffles.

He established a trading station in Singapore in 1819; on the route of the Straits of Malacca. This trading station became a colony. The colonial connection is visible in the institutions and practices of the two countries. Also, India was one of the first countries to recognize Singapore in 1965.

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