External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Meets Singapore Deputy Prime Minister to Review Bilateral Cooperation

SINGAPORE:

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed satisfaction with the growing strength of bilateral initiatives during his meeting with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on 13 July. The update came ahead of his broader diplomatic mission, which also includes a forthcoming trip to China as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ summit.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Jaishankar said he was “glad to note the steady progress in various bilateral initiatives” and welcomed the opportunity to “catch up” with his Singaporean counterpart. The talks reviewed cooperation spanning industrial parks, innovation, semiconductors and green energy, core areas of the India–Singapore strategic partnership’.

Earlier in the day, Mr Jaishankar met Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, reaffirming the city-state’s significance in India’s Act East Policy. “Singapore is at the heart of our Act East Policy,” he confirmed after their exchange of views. Minister Balakrishnan reciprocated, noting that as the world enters a phase of multipolarity, India’s role as “a major pole of opportunity” is set to expand.

The External Affairs Minister highlighted that both sides are preparing for the 3rd India–Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), expected to reinforce high level engagement and follow through on shared commitments.

This diplomatic agenda extends to Beijing, where Mr Jaishankar’s participation in the upcoming SCO foreign ministers’ meeting will mark his first visit to mainland China since the 2020 Eastern Ladakh stand-off. The inclusion of China in his itinerary underlines India’s strategic aim to rejuvenate regional diplomacy.

The India–Singapore dialogue underlines the growing depth and complexity of their relationship, with talks progressing beyond traditional trade and investment to embrace technology, energy transition and supply chain resilience. Mr Jaishankar’s visit emphasises that Singapore is not only a historic partner, but a contemporary ally aligned with India’s long‑term economic and strategic vision.

With high-impact engagements lined up in both Singapore and China, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s current tour is being closely watched for its capacity to enhance cooperation, regional stability and diplomatic reach.