Singapore-Pakistan trade should be 'much higher' given strong diplomatic ties: Vivian Balakrishnan

The minister for foreign affairs was speaking at a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart while on an official visit to Pakistan, the first by a Singapore leader in over 20 years.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan (left) and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Pakistan on Oct 30, 2026. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

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SINGAPORE: Trade between Singapore and Pakistan “ought to be much higher” given their strong diplomatic relations, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on Friday (Oct 30).

Dr Balakrishnan said there is scope for greater collaboration in areas such as carbon markets, as well as stronger ties between businesses in both countries.

“We need to facilitate greater trade and investment flows,” he said.

"In an increasingly uncertain global environment, including the business side of it, I think it's even all the more important for our two countries to remain open, connected and constructively engaged with each other.”

His remarks come as Singapore and Pakistan mark 60 years of diplomatic relations this year.

Dr Balakrishnan was speaking at a joint press conference in Islamabad with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar during an official visit to the country.

This is the first official visit by a Singaporean leader since 2005, when then Foreign Minister George Yeo attended an Asia Cooperation Dialogue meeting in Islamabad.

Before that, on an official visit in 2004, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong witnessed the signing of agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation and formalise consultations between the two countries' foreign ministries.

Dr Balakrishnan referred to Mr Goh’s visit at the press conference, noting that while there had been high-level exchanges between the two countries over the years, these had not often taken place in Singapore or Pakistan.

“Not often enough in our own home countries…So this (visit) is belated, but better late than never.”

STRENGTHENING BUSINESS TIES

Mr Dar on Friday said both countries welcomed the growth in bilateral trade and discussed ways to build on this progress.

"We agreed to encourage closer engagement between our business communities, through exchange of business delegations and stronger links between our chambers of commerce, in order to facilitate stronger business-to-business ties," he added.

He added that Pakistan has opened a trade and investment office at its high commission in Singapore, a testament of its “resolve to promote stronger B2B (business-to-business) ties” with the country.

Mr Dar also said Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had accepted in principle an invitation from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to visit Singapore.

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The last Pakistani leader to visit Singapore was then-foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in 2022.

Dr Balakrishnan said Mr Sharif's acceptance of the invitation “injects an additional sense of urgency” into efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

DEEPENING COOPERATION BEYOND TRADE

Beyond trade and economic ties, he highlighted opportunities for further cooperation in areas such as disaster preparedness and skills development.

On Friday, both sides witnessed the exchange of a memorandum of understanding on disaster management cooperation between the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority.

"This reflects our shared commitment to strengthen disaster preparedness and response. Disaster is not something you wish for, but it is something which we have to prepare for,” said Dr Balakrishnan.

“At the rate things are going and with the progression of climate change, this is a current and clear threat. And the more we can work together and prepare together, the more resilient we will be.”

Dr Balakrishnan said the agreement could pave the way for cooperation in areas such as early warning systems, sharing of best practices, strengthening search and rescue capabilities and joint training.

During the press conference, Mr Dar said that Pakistan and Singapore enjoy "long-standing and friendly relations focused on mutual respect and goodwill".

He added that both sides discussed the possible resumption of direct flights between Singapore and Pakistan to facilitate business travel and closer people-to-people ties.

BROADER REGIONAL COOPERATION

Mr Dar also conveyed his best wishes to Singapore as the country prepares to assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2027.

"We look forward to working closely with Singapore in support of its priorities as chairman and to further strengthen Pakistan-ASEAN cooperation," he noted.

During his visit, Dr Balakrishnan called on Mr Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the country's chief of defence forces and army staff.

Dr Balakrishnan’s itinerary also included a visit to the National Center of Artificial Intelligence at Pakistan’s National University of Sciences and Technology to learn about its advancements in AI.

Dr Balakrishnan commended Pakistan's "constructive and valuable role" in the Gulf, noting that the region’s importance to Asia as much of the energy passing through it is destined for South Asia, Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia.

Pakistan has deepened its security and diplomatic footprint in the Gulf in recent months to stabilise the region, such as through several defence agreements.

"The unique but very constructive and valuable role that Pakistan takes is one which we commend you for, and we wish you every success because if you succeed, it's good for all of us," he said.

Looking ahead, Dr Balakrishnan stressed the importance of building on the two countries' longstanding ties.

"Sixty years is an important milestone, but what matters more is what we do in the next 60 years," said Dr Balakrishnan.

"So I will look forward to building on the discussions today and finding more practical ways to advance the development of very close relations between Singapore and Pakistan."

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新加坡外交部长在与巴基斯坦外长举行的联合新闻发布会上发表了讲话。此次访问是新加坡领导人20多年来首次访问巴基斯坦。

2026年10月30日，印度外交部长维文·巴拉克里希南（左）与巴基斯坦副总理兼外交部长穆罕默德·伊沙克·达尔在巴基斯坦伊斯兰堡会面。（图片：印度外交部）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：新加坡外交部长维文·巴拉克里希南周五（10月30日）表示，鉴于新加坡和巴基斯坦之间牢固的外交关系，两国之间的贸易额“应该更高”。

巴拉克里希南博士表示，两国在碳市场等领域有更大的合作空间，两国企业之间也有更紧密的联系。

他说：“我们需要促进更大的贸易和投资流动。”

“在全球环境（包括商业环境）日益不确定的情况下，我认为我们两国保持开放、联系和建设性互动就显得更加重要。”

今年是新加坡和巴基斯坦建交60周年，他发表这番言论正值此时。

巴拉克里希南博士在对巴基斯坦进行正式访问期间，在伊斯兰堡与巴基斯坦副总理兼外交部长穆罕默德·伊沙克·达尔举行联合新闻发布会并发表讲话。

这是自 2005 年以来新加坡领导人首次正式访问巴基斯坦。2005 年，时任外交部长杨荣文出席了在伊斯兰堡举行的亚洲合作对话会议。

此前，在 2004 年的一次正式访问中，时任总理吴作栋见证了加强双边合作和正式确立两国外交部间磋商的协议签署。

巴拉克里希南博士在新闻发布会上提到了吴作栋先生的访问，并指出，虽然多年来两国之间一直有高层交流，但这些交流很少在新加坡或巴基斯坦进行。

“在我们自己的国家，这样的机会并不多……所以这次（访问）来得晚了些，但总比没有好。”

加强商业联系

达尔先生周五表示，两国都对双边贸易的增长表示欢迎，并讨论了如何在此基础上取得更大进展。

他补充说：“我们一致同意通过互派商务代表团和加强商会之间的联系，鼓励两国商界更紧密地互动，以促进更紧密的企业间联系。”

他还补充说，巴基斯坦已在其驻新加坡高级专员公署开设了贸易和投资办事处，这证明了巴基斯坦“决心加强与新加坡的B2B（企业对企业）联系”。

达尔先生还表示，巴基斯坦总理穆罕默德·谢赫巴兹·谢里夫原则上接受了新加坡总理黄循财的邀请，将访问新加坡。

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上一次有巴基斯坦领导人访问新加坡是2022年时任外交部长比拉瓦尔·布托·扎尔达里。

巴拉克里希南博士表示，谢里夫先生接受邀请“为加强双边合作注入了额外的紧迫感”。

深化贸易以外的合作

除了贸易和经济联系之外，他还强调了在灾害防备和技能发展等领域进一步合作的机会。

周五，双方见证了新加坡民防部队 (SCDF) 与巴基斯坦国家灾害管理局交换关于灾害管理合作的谅解备忘录。

“这体现了我们加强灾害防备和应对能力的共同承诺。灾害不是我们希望发生的，但我们必须做好准备，”巴拉克里希南博士说。

“照目前的情况发展下去，气候变化也在不断加剧，这已成为一个迫在眉睫的明确威胁。我们越能携手合作、共同应对，就越能增强抵御气候变化的能力。”

巴拉克里希南博士表示，该协议可以为早期预警系统、最佳实践分享、加强搜救能力和联合训练等领域的合作铺平道路。

在新闻发布会上，达尔先生表示，巴基斯坦和新加坡享有“长期友好关系，这种关系建立在相互尊重和善意之上”。

他还补充说，双方讨论了恢复新加坡和巴基斯坦之间直航的可能性，以促进商务旅行和加强民间交流。

更广泛的区域合作

达尔先生还向新加坡表达了最美好的祝愿，祝愿新加坡在2027年顺利担任东南亚国家联盟（东盟）轮值主席国。

他指出：“我们期待与新加坡密切合作，支持其作为轮值主席国的各项优先事项，并进一步加强巴基斯坦与东盟的合作。”

访问期间，巴拉克里希南博士拜会了谢里夫先生和该国国防军总司令兼陆军参谋长赛义德·阿西姆·穆尼尔元帅。

巴拉克里希南博士的行程还包括参观巴基斯坦国立科技大学国家人工智能中心，了解该中心在人工智能领域的最新进展。

巴拉克里希南博士赞扬了巴基斯坦在海湾地区发挥的“建设性和宝贵作用”，并指出该地区对亚洲的重要性，因为途经该地区的大量能源最终都将流向南亚、东南亚和东北亚。

近几个月来，巴基斯坦通过签署多项防务协议等方式，深化了其在海湾地区的安全和外交影响力，以稳定该地区局势。

他说：“巴基斯坦发挥了独特而又极具建设性和价值的作用，我们对此表示赞赏，并祝愿你们一切顺利，因为如果你们成功了，对我们所有人都有好处。”

展望未来，巴拉克里希南博士强调了巩固两国长期关系的重要性。

“六十年是一个重要的里程碑，但更重要的是我们在接下来的六十年里要做什么，”巴拉克里希南博士说。

“因此，我期待在今天讨论的基础上，找到更多切实可行的方法来推进新加坡和巴基斯坦之间紧密关系的发展。”

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