By Anadolu staff
ANKARA (AA) — Australia and Singapore on Wednesday announced the launch of an upgraded version of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during a meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in Canberra.
The new framework, called Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0, is designed to guide the countries’ ties for the next decade. It expands cooperation in the economy, defense, security and regional engagement to prepare for what both sides described as future challenges and opportunities.
In a joint statement, the leaders said: “Since the launch of the CSP in 2015, we have deepened economic engagement and cooperation and forged new pathways in frontier areas such as the digital and green economies. Our longstanding defence and security cooperation contributes to a stable and peaceful region.”
The upgraded partnership also includes a new Australia–Singapore Economic Resilience Dialogue aimed at strengthening supply chains and preparing both nations for economic shocks.
“In addition to our upgraded partnership, Ministers have signed Memorandum of Understanding across the board. There's a new Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, Economic Resilience Agreement, and another on working with our ASEAN partners,” Albanese told reporters after the meeting.
Wong arrived Monday in Australia for his first official four-day visit since taking office last year.
Both countries also agreed to bolster defense cooperation, including greater military “reciprocal access to defense facilities in Australia and Singapore.”
“We are stepping up our security cooperation through the Enhanced Defence Cooperation MOU. We will improve our military's reciprocal access to facilities and deepen cooperation in defence, science, technology, logistics and supply chains. We are strengthening economic connectivity,” Wong said.
The two prime ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting an open, inclusive and rules-based regional order with ASEAN at its core.