Upgraded ties with France, Germany to benefit tech, sustainability, defence: DPM Wong

[PARIS] SINGAPORE’S plans to upgrade relations with France and Germany will open up new areas of cooperation, such as in artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability and defence, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Friday (Apr 12).

Wong was speaking to reporters at the Singapore embassy in Paris, as he wrapped up a six-day trip to Germany and France – his first official visit to Europe in his current capacity.

On Tuesday, Singapore and Germany agreed to work towards upgrading relations to a Strategic Partnership, after Wong called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

Two days later, Wong and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work at elevating ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). France has had a Strategic Partnership with Singapore for over a decade and is currently the only European Union (EU) member state with one.

These upgrades are “not just about a name change” but about affirming and adding substance to ties and “mark a new phase in our relationship”, said Wong in his interview with the Singapore media.

“I’m sure we will be able to identify new areas of cooperation in areas of shared interests. For example, that could include new and critical technologies like AI; it could include green and sustainability projects, or even defence and security cooperation,” he said.

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On the sustainability front, Wong and Macron launched the France-Singapore Joint Year of Sustainability (JYOS), a series of events from April 2024 to mid-2025 that highlights both countries’ cooperation in sustainable development and the green transition.

Efforts under the JYOS could involve facilitating energy efficiency projects that companies in both countries are interested in, Wong said in response to a question from The Business Times. There could also be mechanisms to catalyse green financing for sustainability projects in the region.

“Some of (the efforts) could be green projects in South-east Asia, because we know there is a need for South-east Asia to accelerate its green transition and to have more renewable energy projects,” said Wong.

Singapore has been discussing the import of green electricity into the city-state with a few countries, said Wong. He hopes some of these discussions could “evolve into or be the building blocks” for a broader Asean power grid – an effort to integrate power systems across the region.

France has companies that have been involved in such regional power projects and interconnections, said Wong. It thus might have expertise to offer on this front, he said.

On the defence side, Wong said that both France and Germany are keen to work with Singapore in areas such as defence technology and cybersecurity.

He noted that Europe has been focused on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, spending more on defence and stepping up support for Ukraine.

This will likely be a “preoccupation for some time on the defence and security side”, said Wong.

Engaging the EU

Wong said that it was important for him to visit Germany and France as Singapore navigates a new era of great power politics, with Europe remaining a key player in the global order.

“(The) EU has its own independent perspectives and views on many issues. So it is important for us in Singapore to understand the EU and engage the EU on its own terms,” he said.

The DPM said his trip enabled him to engage leaders “whom I will be working (with) not just now in my current capacity, but also in the future when I take over”. Wong is expected to succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong by November.

During the Berlin leg of the trip, Wong visited Scholz, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck.

In Paris, Wong met Macron for the first time in his current capacity as DPM. Thanks to the “deep reservoir of trust” built over decades between Singapore and France, both leaders were able to share frank views on bilateral issues and geopolitical developments, said Wong.

He also met Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty later on Friday.

Noting that “a fast changing world presents unique opportunities in areas like digital trade and energy”, Wong said that he discussed with Le Maire ways for their countries to seize key opportunities and enhance their relationship.

Wong noted that in meeting the leaders of both France and Germany, there was “a very strong mutual sentiment” about the importance of partnership. “That’s why all parties readily agreed to upgrade and update the relationship,” he said.

Over the course of the week, Wong also attended receptions in the French and German capitals for Singaporeans living abroad.

He graced the launch of Temasek Holdings’ new office in Paris, where he noted that despite the challenges in the external environment, there remains opportunities to be seized in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.