The Chamber
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and French President Emmanuel Macron Launch Joint Year of Sustainability
Singapore and France Strengthen Ties with Dinner Meeting and New Initiatives on Sustainable Development
On April 11, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore, Lawrence Wong, was hosted to a working dinner by French President Emmanuel Macron. This high-level engagement took place as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the robust relationship between Singapore and France.
During the dinner, both leaders launched the France-Singapore Joint Year of Sustainability (JYOS), a significant initiative set to span from April 2024 to mid-2025. This yearlong event aims to showcase and promote bilateral cooperation on sustainable development and the green transition, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The leaders expressed their satisfaction with the substantial growth in bilateral relations since the upgrade to a Strategic Partnership in October 2012. They also discussed the prospect of elevating this partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) by 2025, reflecting the broad-based and forward-looking cooperation between the two countries, especially in emerging sectors like the digital economy.
In addition to bilateral topics, DPM Wong and President Macron explored ways to enhance cooperation between France and the ASEAN region, including projects like the ASEAN Power Grid, which aims to promote energy connectivity and sustainability across Southeast Asia.
SOURCE: InDiplomacy