Speech by His Majesty the King on the occacion of the State Banquet for his Excellency Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore
Mr President,
Together with the Queen, I am delighted to welcome you and your spouse to Belgium. Your State visit to our country offers us an opportunity to celebrate our strong bonds.
But our relations cannot be seen apart from the severe threats to global peace and multilateralism, which have surged recently. We are deeply concerned about the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa. And about rising tensions in the South China Sea and in the Taiwan Strait. Singapore’s resilience, in a region confronted with challenges, stands out.
And we share your concerns. Singapore’s and Belgium’s plea for peaceful cooperation contrasts with the hard power games we are witnessing. And your international advocacy is supported by actions. Building further on a track record of bridge building diplomacy, and consensus seeking, we highly value your support for Ukraine. As well as your country’s foreign policy, driven by the need for peace, stability and respect for international law. This spirit of peace and dialogue is also what drives Singapore’s unique Interfaith Dialogues, gathering thousands of people every year.
It should come as no surprise that the success of the Singaporean model inspires leaders and individuals all over the world. Your festivals, architecture, and cuisine reflect a unique way for different cultures to live together harmoniously. Singapore upholds the values of respect for people and the common good, including safety and security.
Together with its advanced infrastructure, its iconic green areas remarkably combine dense urban living with respect for nature. Your strong track record in finance, technology and healthcare builds on decades of top tier education, and innovation. And your merit-based model offers citizens real opportunities to move up, economically and socially.
Mr President,
As you rightly pointed out in Davos, now that confidence in global institutions is at a low, our real task is to rebuild optimism, and trust in our collective future. Your leadership in global fora, including Davos, gives us hope. And the success of your country reinforces this vision.
In today’s world where the individualistic tendency is on the rise, I especially commend your personal advocacy for social justice and solidarity. This was also recognised by Pope Francis during his landmark visit to your country. Your message that economic growth must go hand in hand with social cohesion, not leaving out vulnerable people, is a powerful invitation to rethink, and rebuild a better future. Singapore’s annual Purple Parade, celebrating the talents of the special needs community, shows your country’s genuine commitment to promoting inclusivity. Tomorrow’s roundtable on social inclusion will allow us to share insights on societal challenges, and solutions. You will see that our civil society also addresses these issues head-on, constantly creating new ways to ensure that no one is left behind.
I am truly struck by how much our countries have in common. Singapore and Belgium have very diverse cultures, languages, and beliefs, allowing all our citizens in their rich diversity to live together in peace. Our countries are committed to the creation of prosperity, but also to social peace and equal opportunities for all.
We view our interdependence not as a weakness, but as an opportunity for individual growth, that then makes each other stronger. In this regard, you said in Davos that our countries should develop their own capabilities. “Do it in areas where we have some advantage, some accumulated skills, some potential to succeed, and develop scale. And complement each other in an interdependent world.” I fully subscribe to these wise words. And through our bilateral bonds of friendship, we continue to put these convictions into action.
Mr President,
Belgium and Singapore share their commitment to addressing climate change, protecting our planet’s rich biodiversity, especially our oceans, through the High Seas Treaty, which you helped facilitate. We also applaud you for establishing a Carbon Market Alliance, focused on carbon credits that are aligned with the Paris Agreement.
Both our economies are highly innovative, open, and globally competitive, despite our small territories and limited natural resources. Our strong policies on skills development and on research have made us leaders in high tech, biopharma, green energy and aerospace.
On this basis, Singapore and Belgium have built long - term, mutually beneficial economic ties. The extension of Tuas Port, with the help of Belgian companies, will make it Asia’s largest port by 2040. On our side, PSA is the largest container handler in the Port of Antwerp. Your visit tomorrow will underscore the crucial role our global ports play in global supply chains.
Mr President,
The five stars in Singapore’s national flag symbolize your nation’s spirit of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality. I am convinced that our bilateral relations can reach for the stars! Your visit to Belgium marks a renewed commitment to these shared values. And it is my sincere wish that our cooperation will reach new heights.
As is often said in Singapore, “can can!”. Together, we can make the world a better, and a more peaceful, place.
I now invite you, Ladies and Gentlemen, to raise your glasses to the health of President Tharman and his spouse, and to our future of common and shared prosperity.