Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee

This week, the Foreign, Trade and Defence Ministerswill host their Singaporean counterparts for the 11thSingapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee (SAJMC) meeting in Sydney.

The biennial high-level talks are an importantopportunity to discuss regional security, including our response to extremismand maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. Ministers will also discuss jointpriorities for regional forums including ASEAN and the East Asia Summit.

Singapore is a close and trusted partner. In 2015 weelevated our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Singaporeis our largest trade and investment relationship in ASEAN, and eighth largesttrading partner overall, with the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreementcontinuing to provide opportunities for both our nations.

Our strong security relationship is underscored byjoint military exercises and close cooperation across defence, intelligence andtechnology sectors.

Australia and Singapore also have strong ties acrosseducation, tourism, and arts and culture. Our education links are growing withmore than 2,100 New Colombo Plan students having studied and undertakeninternships in Singapore since 2014.

We are expanding collaboration in the fields ofscience and innovation, including the opening of a CSIRO office in Singaporeand strengthened cooperation between the start-up communities in our twocountries.

The SAJMC was established by the Prime Ministers ofAustralia and Singapore in 1996. Singapore will be represented by the Ministerfor Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Defence, Dr Ng EngHen, and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Chan Chun Sing.