S Jaishankar, the 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 the regions to be connected by secure seas, integrated by trade and investment and underpinned by the rule of law. He has sought Singapore's support in addressing the challenges posed by the changing world. In a tweet, S Jaishankar has thanked the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong.

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Addressing the inaugural session of 'India-Singapore: The Next Phase of Strategic Partnership', Jaishankar said, "There is no hegemonic power to underwrite an international order but nor is there a global compact among nations. The international situation today is under stress."

China and the strategic Indo-Pacific region

According to Jaishankar, in geopolitics, it is not only the rise of China and the sharper competition between the United States and China, but also the simultaneous rise of several countries, the 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 not an easy time, but also not a disheartening time. I think a lot would depend on the imagination and the dexterity with which we together address many of the challenges," he added.

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Recalling India's ties with Singapore

Jaishankar was earlier posted in Singapore as the high commissioner. He said, "When we came together in the contemporary phase of our relationship, it was a time when the world was changing and India was changing. The two changes had something to do with each other." Singapore is a key partner in India's growth and development. In 1992, India had launched the Indo-Asian partnership and by 2005, India became a member of the 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 the first country with whom India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement," the 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 the longest India has had with any country. Now we have extended it as a trilateral with Thailand," Jaishankar said. Referring to political, strategical as well as economic and commercial areas, the minister said that Singapore has become a fulcrum for India's policies east of India. 

On India-Singapore entering the digital age 

During the discussion, Jaishankar stated that India and Singapore are at another cusp which provides other opportunities to further the relationship. "Beyond the traditional areas of cooperation, we have entered the digital age with its opportunities. The area of fintech needs to be explored. India is a country of SMEs in many ways. When we look at trade and negotiations like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership which is underway, it is important both economically and strategically trade agreement is a balance of negotiated interests," he said. Jaishankar also added that connectivity is another important aspect of the bilateral agenda.

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