Singapore’s ties with India are hugely important and will continue to grow with a lot of prospects for bilateral cooperation, former Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said.
“Going forward, I see a lot of prospects for both countries,” said Mr.Goh on the sidelines of a book release on diplomatic relations between Singapore and India.
“India has an activist Prime Minister. Mr.Modi has been travelling everywhere and is very keen on promoting relations, and of course, India will be special from our point of view,” said Mr. Goh, who holds the honorary title of “Emeritus Senior Minister”.
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“So, we welcome more Indian interaction with the Singapore business people. But beyond business is the cultural and ethnic ties, which are very important,” he said.
Mr. Goh also said, even while serving as Prime Minister, he saw a huge potential in the Singapore-India relationship in terms of trade, investment and cultural ties.
Mr. Goh, who was the second Prime Minister of Singapore, introduced the Institute of South Asian Studies’ commemorative book on 50 years of diplomatic relations, titled ‘Singapore-India: Towards a Shared Future’.
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The book was earlier launched by Singapore’s President Tony Tan Keng Yam during his state visit to India in February. The book looks at how trade, colonial rule and the movement of people provided the basis for a long-standing partnership.