Toast Speech by PM Lawrence Wong at the Official Lunch Hosted by New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon (Oct 2025)

The Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you again, Prime Minister Luxon, for the warm welcome extended to me and my delegation.

Singapore and New Zealand are small, open economies; outward-looking, connected to the world, and deeply connected to each other. Over these past decades, we have built deep bonds of friendship, and it is a friendship that is anchored on the deep reservoir of trust. We have also learnt from one another. As a civil servant, I had exchanges with many of my New Zealand counterparts, and I know that the exchanges go in many directions between our civil servants and officials - be it in economic policy or education - essentially, we are bound by the close ties between our peoples.

More than a decade ago, I had the privilege of spending time in New Zealand on a fellowship, when I was Chief Executive of the Energy Market Authority in Singapore. And today, it is a pleasure for me to return - this time on my first Official Visit as Prime Minister, to mark six decades of diplomatic ties between our two countries and to upgrade our relationship, as you heard just now from Prime Minister Luxon, to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

Ours is a partnership anchored by trust and a shared strategic outlook. I am always struck at how aligned we are in terms of our strategic perspectives and outlook of the world, and that makes us natural partners. And that has allowed us to pursue many groundbreaking initiatives together - whether it was a P4 that eventually led the CPTPP or the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, or now the pathfinding arrangements that we are putting in place for essential supplies and also for the green economy. I am excited about all of these new opportunities that we will unlock together under the CSP.

But beyond agreements and initiatives, what truly sustains our friendship are the bonds between our people. Many Singaporeans have lived, studied and forged lifelong friendships here. Many more have visited, and carried fond memories of your country's natural beauty and warm hospitality. And even those who have never set foot here will know New Zealand through your icons - from kiwi fruits to the Kapa Haka and, of course, the All Blacks. I hope New Zealanders too will know Singapore from some of our icons - be it durians, Marina Bay Sands or our Botanic Gardens.

I was also moved just now to meet the Kiwi servicemen from your Veterans' Association at the War Memorial. They reminisced about their time in Singapore - staying in the barracks at Nee Soon and Sembawang which is in the northern part of Singapore. Many Singaporeans would have spent time there in our military service. So we have a particular connection talking about time in these barracks in Nee Soon and Sembawang. And their stories are a reminder of how far back our ties go. And I hope many more New Zealanders will have the chance to visit and discover Singapore for themselves.

Prime Minister Luxon, as we celebrate six decades of diplomatic ties, we are not only honouring the milestones achieved between our two countries, but also cherishing these friendships that connect our peoples. May these bonds continue to grow and flourish as our nations move forward together. In the profoundly changing and unpredictable world, the strong bonds between our two countries will provide anchors for all of us to navigate these uncertainties ahead and emerge stronger together.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, may I invite you to join me in a toast to: His Majesty King Charles III; the good health and success of Prime Minister Luxon; and the enduring friendship between Singapore and New Zealand, and our two peoples.