AI, energy and research among areas for 'intensified cooperation' as Singapore, Germany refresh strategic partnership

Singapore and Germany have announced an updated joint work plan that will see the two strategic partners intensify cooperation on five identified pillars.

The announcement was made at a joint press conference between Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the first day of his two-day official visit on Tuesday (Oct 27).

Expanding bilateral cooperation into these further areas is to ensure that the strategic partnership remains dynamic and forward looking, the ministry added.

PM Wong noted in his remarks at the conference that the two countries share a longstanding and substantive relationship built on mutual trust and shared interests, culminating in 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2025.

Today, Germany is one of Singapore's largest trading partners in the European Union (EU), and their bilateral trade in both goods and services has increased significantly since the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement came into force.

Bilateral trade in goods with Germany grew to $23.4 billion in 2025, while services trade increased to around $14.1 billion in 2024.

Meanwhile, over 2,900 German companies are based in Singapore, using the city state as a gateway to opportunities in Asia and the region.

The two countries also share strong defence ties, with the Singapore Armed Forces operating or buying German-made Leopard tanks, the Sentinel-class Offshore Patrol Vessel , and the Invincible-class submarines .

"These arrangements reflect a high level of trust between our two countries," PM Wong said, adding that both Chancellor Merz and him have agreed to the updated joint work plan.

Sharing some areas in which cooperation will be stepped up, the prime minister stated that the two countries intend to cooperate on the development and deployment of industrial AI, where their strengths can complement each other.

But this will be human-centric, and done in a way that remains safe and trusted.

Turning to research and development, PM Wong said the two countries will pursue more joint research and innovation projects in areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, green technologies, semiconductors, quantum, and space technologies.

And moving past bilateral partnerships, the prime minister said Singapore will work to deepen ASEAN's partnership with both Germany and the EU, including by making progress towards an ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement.

PM Wong pointed out that while the two countries may be geographically far apart, they share many common interests and convictions.

"These shared convictions have underpinned our friendship over the past six decades, and in a world that is becoming more uncertain and fragmented, our ties will be even more important in bringing our two countries and our two regions closer together," he said.

新加坡和德国宣布了一项更新的联合工作计划，该计划将使这两个战略伙伴在五个确定的支柱领域加强合作。

该消息是在新加坡总理黄循财和德国总理弗里德里希·默茨于周二（10月27日）举行联合新闻发布会上宣布的，当天也是默茨为期两天的正式访问的第一天。

该部补充说，将双边合作扩展到这些更多领域，是为了确保战略伙伴关系保持活力和前瞻性。

黄之锋总理在会议上的讲话中指出，两国有着建立在互信和共同利益基础上的长期而实质性的关系，并将于2025年迎来建交60周年。

如今，德国是新加坡在欧盟最大的贸易伙伴之一，自欧盟-新加坡自由贸易协定生效以来，两国在货物和服务方面的双边贸易额均显著增长。

到 2025 年，与德国的双边货物贸易额将增长至 234 亿美元，而到 2024 年，服务贸易额将增长至约 141 亿美元。

与此同时，超过 2900 家德国公司在新加坡设立了分支机构，并将这个城市国家作为通往亚洲及周边地区机遇的门户。

两国在防务方面也保持着紧密的联系，新加坡武装部队装备或购买了德国制造的豹式坦克、哨兵级近海巡逻舰和无敌级潜艇。

黄之锋总理表示：“这些安排体现了我们两国之间的高度信任。”他还补充说，他和德国总理默茨都已同意更新后的联合工作计划。

总理在分享一些将加强合作的领域时表示，两国打算在工业人工智能的开发和部署方面开展合作，发挥各自的优势互补。

但这将以人为本，并以安全可靠的方式进行。

黄循财总理在谈到研发时表示，两国将在人工智能、先进制造、绿色技术、半导体、量子技术和空间技术等领域开展更多联合研究和创新项目。

总理表示，新加坡将超越双边伙伴关系，努力深化东盟与德国和欧盟的伙伴关系，包括在东盟-欧盟自由贸易协定方面取得进展。

黄总理指出，虽然两国地理位置遥远，但两国拥有许多共同的利益和信念。

他说：“这些共同的信念在过去六十年里一直是我们友谊的基石，在一个日益不确定和分裂的世界里，我们的关系对于拉近两国和我们两个地区的距离将变得更加重要。”