Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival on an official visit to Singapore, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday said the time is ripe for the two countries to take their bilateral relationship to the next level.
“Given the transformation underway in India and the changes in the world, they need to become more contemporary. In many ways, that is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chosen to visit Singapore so early in his third term,” The Straits Times quoted Jaishankar as saying in an interview.
He said that India and Singapore’s bilateral ties “have been extremely strong in the last two decades”.
Just like Singapore had an opportunity in 1992 and then again in 2006, it should seize the moment and fully utilise the new landscape, the minister said.
“Sometimes, to be honest, I feel that impressions at your end are somewhat dated,” Jaishankar pointed out.
“In India, we are using the achievements of the last decade as the springboard to accelerate national growth and modernisation,” the minister said.
Beyond the bilateral ties, there is also the issue of closer collaboration in a volatile and uncertain world. “In this regard, we must recognise that ours is a partnership based on a high degree of trust and understanding,” the minister said.