New Delhi, September 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a bilateral meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong at Hyderabad House, marking a significant step in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
The talks coincided with the 60th anniversary of India–Singapore diplomatic relations and saw agreements signed on green shipping, digital technologies, space collaboration, and cross-border payments.
Welcoming Wong on his first visit as prime minister, PM Modi said India and Singapore share a “partnership with purpose”, rooted in shared values and a common vision for peace and prosperity.
Key Highlights of the Meeting
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Terrorism Condolences: PM Modi thanked the Singapore government for its support and condolences following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 lives. “We have common concerns about terrorism and believe it is the duty of all humanitarian countries to fight it in solidarity,” he said.
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Trade and Connectivity: The leaders launched the second phase of PSA International’s Mumbai Container Terminal and announced cooperation in green fuel supply chains and digital port clearance systems.
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Digital Payments & Tech: PM Modi confirmed that 13 more Indian banks have joined the UPI–PayNow cross-border payments system. Agreements were also signed in AI, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, and skilling.
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Space Collaboration: Both sides formalized pacts for space research cooperation.
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Free Trade Review: India and Singapore agreed to a time-bound review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and India’s ASEAN free trade pact to accelerate trade and investment.
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Hackathon Announcement: The next India–Singapore Hackathon will be held later this year.
Singapore PM Lawrence Wong also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and BJP President JP Nadda during his three-day official visit.