Singapore, Thailand to expedite talks on green-lane arrangements for essential travel

SINGAPORE and Thailand will work to expedite ongoing discussions on a reciprocal green-lane agreements for essential business travel between both countries, with necessary public health safeguards.

This was discussed in Wednesday's Singapore-Thailand Political Consultations, held via video-conference and co-chaired by the permanent secretaries of Singapore and Thailand's respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Chee Wee Kiong and Busaya Mathelin.

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Wednesday: "Both permanent secretaries had productive talks on strengthening the resilience of supply chains and connectivity networks." The ministry added that they also reaffirmed the excellent state of bilateral relations between Singapore and Thailand, expressing appreciation for mutual assistance and support amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Both sides emphasised the importance of further intensifying cooperation with Asean's partners through promoting research and development on vaccines and medicines, as well as their support for Asean's efforts to fight the pandemic, keeping our economies open and connected, and establishing a framework to deal with future public health emergencies."

They stressed the importance of strengthening Asean centrality and unity, as well as deepening regional economic integration through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to be signed later this year.

At the bilateral level, the permanent secretaries reviewed the good progress in areas such as trade and investment, defence, finance, education and people-to-people ties. They saw the opportunity for cooperation in new areas of growth in the post-Covid-19 era, such as in the digital economy, connectivity, smart cities and cyber security.