S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India on Monday, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, stated that India is looking at an open, inclusive and balanced Indo-Pacific region. According to Jaishankar, India is looking at regions to be connected by secure seas, integrated by tre and investment and underpinned by rule of law. He has sought Singapore's support in dressing challenges posed by changing world. In a tweet, S Jaishankar has thanked Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong.

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dressing inaugural session of 'India-Singapore: Next Phase of Strategic Partnership', Jaishankar said, "re is hegemonic power to underwrite an international order but r is re a global compact among nations. international situation today is under stress."

China and strategic Indo-Pacific region

According to Jaishankar, in geopolitics, it is t only rise of China and sharper competition between United States and China, but also simultaneous rise of several countries, promise of an Asian century, whose rise still has challenges to overcome. "We are poised at a very important juncture in world politics. It is obviously t an easy time, but also t a disheartening time. I think a lot would depend on imagination and dexterity with which we toger dress many of challenges," he ded.

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Recalling India's ties with Singapore

Jaishankar was earlier posted in Singapore as high commissioner. He said, "When we came toger in contemporary phase of our relationship, it was a time when world was changing and India was changing. two changes h something to do with each or." Singapore is a key partner in India's growth and development. In 1992, India h launched Indo-Asian partnership and by 2005, India became a member of East Asia Summit. "During that period, Singapore was a direct source of investments into India. Its financial market was a major source of capital. Singapore was first country with whom India signed a Comprehensive Ecomic Partnership Agreement," minister said.

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According to S Jaishankar's statement, India and Singapore have a robust defence relationship. "We have just completed 25 years of uninterrupted naval exercises which I think is longest India has h with any country. w we have extended it as a trilateral with Thailand," Jaishankar said. Referring to political, strategical as well as ecomic and commercial areas, minister said that Singapore has become a fulcrum for India's policies east of India. 

On India-Singapore entering digital  

During discussion, Jaishankar stated that India and Singapore are at ar cusp which provides or opportunities to furr  relationship. "Beyond tritional areas of cooperation, we have entered digital with its opportunities. area of fintech needs to be explored. India is a country of SMEs in many ways. When we look at tre and negotiations like Regional Comprehensive Ecomic Partnership which is underway, it is important both ecomically and strategically tre agreement is a balance of negotiated interests," he said. Jaishankar also ded that connectivity is ar important aspect of bilateral nda.

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