Singapore, Qatar to elevate ties to Strategic Partnership; renew energy cooperation pact

Singapore and Qatar have agreed to work towards elevating bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, as leaders from both countries met in Doha on Monday (Oct 19) for the ninth Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC).

If realised, the partnership will make Qatar Singapore's second Strategic Partner in the Middle East and marks a new milestone in relations between the two countries, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting.

The HLJC was co-chaired by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, marking the first time in the platform's 20-year history that it was co-chaired by the leaders of both countries.

Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to broadening cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, energy, sustainable development, security, education and human capital development.

The two leaders also welcomed the positive outcomes from the third meeting of the Implementation Monitoring Mechanism of the HLJC held earlier in September.

On artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation, and emerging technologies, PM Wong and Emir Sheikh Tamim recognised that these areas have the potential to become an important bilateral cooperation pillar.

They also underscored the importance of trusted, secure and responsible digital and AI ecosystems, including cooperation on cybersecurity and digital resilience.

Separately, PM Wong and Emir Sheikh Tamim witnessed the exchange of the renewal of a memorandum of understanding between QatarEnergy and Singapore's Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry on cooperation in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-carbon technology.

"This agreement will strengthen energy security between our countries," Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on Monday night.

In a joint statement after the HLJC meeting, the two countries said that the memorandum of understanding underscores their commitment to facilitating stable LNG procurement supply chains and energy security, especially in light of recent market developments.

Turning to developments in the Middle East, the leaders expressed serious concern over the situation in the region and underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in promoting peace and stability.

They also stressed the importance of upholding navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and ensuring that international shipping routes remain open, safe and secure.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their shared commitment to a rules-based international order and multilateralism to collectively address global challenges.

Looking ahead, both sides said they look forward to Emir Sheikh Tamim's State Visit to Singapore, which will serve as an opportunity to launch the Qatar-Singapore Strategic Partnership.

"This will open up new opportunities for cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, energy security, AI and digitalisation," PM Wong wrote in a social media post after the HLJC.

Earlier during his three-day visit to Qatar, PM Wong met with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Al Thani.

They discussed opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on developments in the Middle East. Prime Minister Wong also visited the National Museum of Qatar.

Earlier on Monday, PM Wong visited Qatar Foundation, where he met vice-chairperson Sheikha Hind Bint Hamad Al Thani and exchanged views on education, research and innovation.

The prime minister also attended a reception for overseas Singaporeans in the evening.

The next leg of his visit, beginning Oct 20, is to the United Arab Emirates.

新加坡和卡塔尔已同意努力将双边关系提升为战略伙伴关系。两国领导人于周一（10 月 19 日）在多哈举行了第九届卡塔尔-新加坡高级别联合委员会（HLJC）会议。

根据会后发表的联合声明，如果合作得以实现，卡塔尔将成为新加坡在中东的第二个战略伙伴，并标志着两国关系的新里程碑。

HLJC由首相黄循财和卡塔尔埃米尔谢赫·塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿勒萨尼共同主持，这是该平台成立20年来首次由两国领导人共同主持。

双方还重申致力于扩大在贸易和投资、能源、可持续发展、安全、教育和人力资本发展等领域的合作。

两国领导人还对9月初举行的HLJC执行情况监督机制第三次会议取得的积极成果表示欢迎。

黄循财总理和埃米尔谢赫·塔米姆在人工智能、数字化和新兴技术方面认识到，这些领域有可能成为重要的双边合作支柱。

他们还强调了值得信赖、安全可靠和负责任的数字和人工智能生态系统的重要性，包括在网络安全和数字韧性方面的合作。

此外，黄英贤总理和埃米尔谢赫·塔米姆见证了卡塔尔能源公司与新加坡能源、贸易和工业部就液化天然气（LNG）和低碳技术合作交换谅解备忘录。

新加坡外交部周一晚间发表声明称：“这项协议将加强我们两国之间的能源安全。”

在HLJC会议后的联合声明中，两国表示，该谅解备忘录强调了双方致力于促进稳定的液化天然气采购供应链和能源安全的承诺，尤其是在近期市场发展的情况下。

谈到中东局势，两国领导人对该地区局势表示严重关切，并强调对话和外交在促进和平与稳定方面的重要性。

他们还强调，必须根据国际法，特别是 1982 年《联合国海洋法公约》，维护航行权利和自由，并确保国际航运路线保持畅通、安全和可靠。

两国领导人还重申了他们对以规则为基础的国际秩序和多边主义的共同承诺，以共同应对全球挑战。

展望未来，双方表示期待埃米尔谢赫·塔米姆对新加坡进行国事访问，这将成为启动卡塔尔-新加坡战略伙伴关系的契机。

黄循财总理在HLJC会议后在社交媒体上发文称：“这将为贸易和投资、能源安全、人工智能和数字化等领域的合作开辟新的机遇。”

在对卡塔尔进行为期三天的访问期间，黄之锋首相早些时候会见了卡塔尔酋长国亲王穆罕默德·本·阿卜杜勒拉赫曼·本·贾西姆·阿勒萨尼。

双方探讨了深化双边合作的机遇，并就中东局势交换了意见。黄英贤总理还参观了卡塔尔国家博物馆。

周一早些时候，黄之锋总理访问了卡塔尔基金会，会见了副主席谢赫·欣德·宾特·哈马德·阿勒萨尼，并就教育、研究和创新交换了意见。

当晚，总理还出席了为海外新加坡人举办的招待会。

他的下一站访问将于10月20日开始，目的地是阿拉伯联合酋长国。