Like-minded countries must join capabilities, work closely on shared challenges amid divided world: President Tharman

Amid a more divided and uncertain world, like-minded countries must join-up their capabilities and work closely to address shared challenges and grow opportunities together, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

The President, on a five-day state visit to Sweden till Oct 21 , made this comment in a joint press statement on Monday (Oct 19), after he was accorded a welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

President Tharman noted that both Singapore and Sweden are small nations that have prospered through constant innovation and connections to the wider world.

"We believe in investing in our people, building strong institutions, and working actively to develop domestic solidarity. And we are like-minded in upholding international law, and a rules-based multilateral order."

And it is this common outlook that has provided a strong foundation for practical cooperation over the years, President Tharman noted, pointing to over 40 years of defence cooperation and Swedish-British biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca's upcoming $2 billion facility in Singapore.

Most recognisably, Singapore's started its underwater fleet with four second-hand Sjoormen-class submarines between 1995 and 1997, and with two Vastergotland-class submarines in 2005.

Swedish defence technology firms Karlskronavarvet and Saab Kockums have also collaborated with Singapore defence engineering firms such as Singapore Technologies Engineering Marine on its surface ships.

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca's facility in Tuas , when completed in 2029, will be the company's first end-to-end antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) production site globally.

Unlike conventional chemotherapy drugs which are unable to distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells, ADCs are next-generation treatments that deliver highly potent cancer-killing agents directly to cancer cells through a targeted antibody.

Singapore companies also have an active commercial presence in Sweden, with the Stockholm Metro now operated by Connecting Stockholm, which counts Singapore's ComfortDelGro as a joint venture partner .

At the same time, Temasek is growing its engagement with Swedish partners, as it explores long-term investment opportunities in Sweden and Europe, President Tharman said.

Expanded areas of cooperation

Beyond the present, the two governments will also conclude a new joint declaration that will expand their cooperation in emerging technologies, including quantum.

Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology, Ericsson and Singapore's Nanyang Technological University will also collaborate on next-generation positioning technologies that use artificial intelligence (AI) and 6G, the next generation of mobile networks.

Other areas of strengthened linkages include between research and academic institutions, and Sweden's engagement of Southeast Asia and ASEAN, including the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in July this year.

Summing up his remarks, President Tharman said: "The bottom line is clear. Singapore and Sweden share the conviction that as the world becomes more divided and uncertain, like-minded countries must join-up our capabilities and work closely to address shared challenges and grow opportunities together."

尚达曼总统表示，在当今世界日益分裂和不确定的背景下，志同道合的国家必须整合自身能力，密切合作，共同应对挑战，共同把握机遇。

总统对瑞典进行为期五天的国事访问，访问将持续到 10 月 21 日。周一（10 月 19 日），在瑞典国王卡尔十六世·古斯塔夫和王后西尔维娅于王宫举行欢迎仪式后，总统在联合新闻发布会上发表了上述评论。

尚达曼总统指出，新加坡和瑞典都是小国，但它们通过不断创新和与世界其他地区的联系而繁荣发展。

“我们相信应该投资于人民，建设强大的机构，并积极致力于发展国内团结。我们在维护国际法和以规则为基础的多边秩序方面也持有相同的理念。”

尚达曼总统指出，正是这种共同的愿景为多年来的务实合作奠定了坚实的基础，并提到了超过40年的防务合作以及瑞典-英国生物制药公司阿斯利康即将在新加坡投资20亿美元建设的工厂。

最引人注目的是，新加坡的水下舰队最初于 1995 年至 1997 年间购入了四艘二手 Sjoormen 级潜艇，并于 2005 年购入了两艘 Vastergotland 级潜艇。

瑞典国防技术公司 Karlskronavarvet 和 Saab Kockums 也与新加坡国防工程公司（如新加坡科技工程海事公司）合作开发水面舰艇。

与此同时，阿斯利康位于大士的工厂将于 2029 年建成，届时将成为该公司在全球首个端到端抗体药物偶联物 (ADC) 生产基地。

与无法区分健康细胞和癌细胞的传统化疗药物不同，ADC 是新一代疗法，它通过靶向抗体将高效的抗癌药物直接输送到癌细胞。

新加坡公司在瑞典也有着活跃的商业活动，斯德哥尔摩地铁现在由 Connecting Stockholm 运营，而新加坡的 ComfortDelGro 是其合资伙伴。

淡马锡总裁尚达曼表示，与此同时，淡马锡正在加强与瑞典合作伙伴的联系，探索在瑞典和欧洲的长期投资机会。

扩大合作领域

除了目前之外，两国政府还将签署一份新的联合声明，扩大在新兴技术领域（包括量子技术）的合作。

瑞典皇家理工学院、爱立信公司和新加坡南洋理工大学也将合作开发下一代定位技术，该技术将使用人工智能 (AI) 和下一代移动网络 6G。

其他加强联系的领域包括研究机构和学术机构之间的联系，以及瑞典与东南亚和东盟的合作，包括今年7月签署的《友好合作条约》。

达曼总统总结发言时说：“结论很明确。新加坡和瑞典都坚信，随着世界日益分裂和不确定，志同道合的国家必须整合自身能力，紧密合作，共同应对挑战，把握机遇。”