Consular section of the Russian Embassy in Singapore. Embassy of Singapore in Russia
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RUSSIAN-SINGAPORE RELATIONS
Regular political dialogue is maintained at the highest and highest levels. In December 2005, on the sidelines of the first Russia-ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In November 2009, the first official visit in the history of Russian-Singapore relations by the President of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev to Singapore took place.
In November 2015, on the sidelines of the 10th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), a meeting was held between the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong.
In May 2016, negotiations between the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev took place with Lee Hsien Loong as part of his working visit to Russia in conjunction with participation in the anniversary Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi. Memorandums of understanding were signed between the ministries of culture of the two countries, the Russian Academy of Sciences and Nanyang Technological University, as well as the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Government of Singapore.
In November 2017, in Manila, on the sidelines of the 12th East Asian Summit (EAS), the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev had a conversation with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong. The parties confirmed their mutual interest in deepening political dialogue and intensifying trade, economic, scientific and cultural ties.
Contacts are maintained between foreign policy departments. In March 2009, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov held negotiations in Moscow with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore J. Yeo. In August 2018, Sergey Lavrov had a conversation with Singaporean Foreign Minister V. Balakrishnan on the sidelines of ASEAN events in Singapore.
Since 1986, inter-Ministry of Foreign Affairs consultations have been held. In April 2018, their next round was held in Singapore at the level of deputy ministers (I.V. Morgulov, Chee Wee Kiong).
The interparliamentary dialogue is advancing. In April 2013, Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore H. Jacob (since September 2017 - President of the Republic of Singapore) visited Moscow. In March 2016, the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, V.I. Matvienko, paid an official visit to Singapore. Regular meetings of Russian and Singaporean legislators take place at multilateral platforms, in particular, within the framework of the annual sessions of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum.
Trade and economic cooperation is developing. The main areas of practical interaction are special economic zones, energy, transport, agriculture, infrastructure development, information and communication technologies. The largest joint projects are the participation of the Changi Airports International group in the management of regional airports in Krasnodar, Gelendzhik, Anapa and Vladivostok, the implementation by the Singaporean company Olam International of investment projects in the field of agriculture (Penza region), the participation of Jurong International in the creation of special economic zones of industrial production type “Moglino” (Pskov region) and “Alabuga” (Republic of Tatarstan), as well as the construction of the innovation center “Innopolis Kazan” (Tatarstan).
Bilateral trade is showing strong growth. According to the Federal Customs Service of Russia, in 2017 trade turnover increased to $4.4 billion (+94.0% compared to 2016), with exports accounting for $3.3 billion (+83.1% ), imports – $1.1 billion (+133.5%). In January–May of this year, the volume of mutual trade amounted to $1.3 billion (-28.8% compared to the same period in 2017), including exports – $1.1 billion (-32.6% ), imports – $225.8 million (-2.1%).
The bulk of Russian exports to Singapore were supplies of mineral products (93.7%). Machinery, equipment and vehicles (3.3%), metals and products made from them (2.2%) were exported.
A significant share of imports from Singapore was machinery, equipment and vehicles (60%). Chemical industry products accounted for 22.9%, mineral products - 6.6%, food products - 5.5%, metals and metal products - 3.7%, wood and pulp and paper products (1%).
At the end of 2017, the Russian Federation received $2.4 billion in direct investment from Singapore, and $6.1 billion from Russia to Singapore. The bulk of this came from operations of domestic oil companies to finance trade in petroleum products.
Since 2010, the Intergovernmental Russian-Singapore High-Level Commission (IGC) has been operating. Co-chairs are Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation M.A. Akimov and Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policy of Singapore T. Shanmugaratnam.
On October 17, 2017, the 8th meeting of the Commission was held in Moscow, during which the current state of bilateral relations, as well as the progress of implementation of key investment projects in the areas of agriculture, transport infrastructure, housing and communal services and education were substantively analyzed. “On the margins” of the IPC, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the International Arbitration Center of Singapore and the Institute of Modern Arbitration in Moscow. The 9th meeting of the IPC is scheduled for September 19 this year.
The annual Russian-Singapore Business Forum, organized in conjunction with IGC events, remains a popular platform for direct communication between the business circles of the two countries.
In 2017, in Singapore, with the support of the Rostec Group of Companies and the Russian-Singapore Business Council, a Center for Foreign Promotion of Russian High-Tech Companies and Presentation of Investment Projects was opened.
Work is underway on a draft free trade agreement (FTA) between the Eurasian Economic Union and Singapore.
Relations with Singapore are developing through the Russian regions (Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar and Primorsky territories). In October 2017, Singapore was visited by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan R.N. Minnikhanov, in November - by the Governor of the Moscow Region A.Yu. Vorobyov, as well as delegations from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) (August 2017) and St. Petersburg (November 2017 .).
Cooperation in the Arctic is a promising area. March 23-28 this year At the invitation of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation, the Minister of State at the Office of the Prime Minister, State Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Resources S. Tan, visited Russia. During this visit, S. Tan met with the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic A.N. Chilingarov and the leadership of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (St. Petersburg). He also had a conversation with First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs V.G. Titov (Moscow, March 26, 2018).
Bilateral ties in the humanitarian sphere are expanding. Since 2006, more than 20 agreements on scientific and technical cooperation and joint R&D have been concluded. Within the framework of the system in force since the first half of the 1990s. Singapore's personnel training program has trained more than 200 Russian specialists and civil servants on short-term courses.
The creation of a Russian Cultural Center (RCC) with an Orthodox church in Singapore is expected to play an important role in strengthening humanitarian exchanges. In May 2015, a corresponding intergovernmental agreement was signed (came into force on October 21, 2015).
In December 2008, the parish of the Russian Orthodox Church was officially registered at the Singapore Registration Chamber, and a Sunday school with instruction in Russian was opened (more than 4 thousand Russians live in the country on a temporary and permanent basis).
According to the Singapore Tourism Board, in 2017 the Republic was visited by 80.1 thousand Russian tourists (+13.8%).
Since July 2015, the Russian Visa Center has been operating in Singapore.
Direct air connections have been established between the two countries. Regular flights from Moscow are operated by Singapore Airlines.
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REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
General information. Singapore is an island country in Southeast Asia, located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Translated from Sanskrit, Singapore means “city of the lion”. This name is carried simultaneously by an island, a river, a city and a state.
total area– 719.1 sq. km.
Official language– Malay. Official languages are English (also administrative), Chinese, Tamil.
State flag– consists of two equal horizontal stripes of red and white, symbolizing the brotherhood and equality of people (red), as well as purity and virtue (white). In the upper left corner there is a white crescent (symbolizing a young, dynamically developing nation) and five five-pointed stars (representing democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality) forming a circle.
National emblem is a scarlet shield on which a silver crescent is depicted and above it five five-pointed stars placed in a circle. The shield is held by a lion and a tiger standing on two golden palm leaves with a blue ribbon with the inscription “Singapore, go!”
National anthem sung in Malay.
Population– 5.612 million people, incl. 3.9 million are Singapore citizens and residents (as of January 2018). National composition: Chinese (74.3%), Malays (13.4%), Indians (9.1%), representatives of other ethnic groups, including Europeans (3.2%). Average life expectancy: 80 years (men), 85 years (women).
Major religions– Buddhism (33.3% of citizens and permanent residents), Christianity (18.3%), Islam (14.7%), Taoism (10.9%), Hinduism (5.1%), other religions (0. 7%). 17% of Singaporeans consider themselves atheists.
Public holidays– New Year (January 1), Chinese New Year (according to the lunar calendar), Good Friday (according to Catholic canons), Labor Day (May 1), Vesak (according to Buddhist canons), Hari Raya Puasa (last day of Ramadan), Hari Raya Haji (Muslim festival of sacrifice), Deepavali (Hindu canons) and Christmas (December 25).
National currency− Singapore dollar. Its average annual exchange rate to the US dollar in 2017 was 1.3807 sing. dollars for 1 US dollar.
Historical reference. The first mentions of Singapore are contained in Chinese chronicles in the 3rd century. AD In the 8th century The port of Temasek arose on the island - one of the centers of maritime trade of the state of Srivijaya with its center in Sumatra. The island's importance grew markedly in the 15th century. with the beginning of the era of great geographical discoveries.
Modern history begins in 1819, when the English statesman Stamford Raffles founded a British port on the island. During the Second World War, Singapore was occupied by Japan (1942-1945), and after the war returned to British control, but with a greater degree of self-government, which ultimately ended with the merger of Singapore with the Federation of Malaya and the formation of Malaysia in 1963. Independence proclaimed on August 9, 1965 after secession from the Federation.
State structure. Singapore is a parliamentary republic. The parliament is unicameral, formed for a five-year term. The majority of parliamentarians are elected by universal suffrage in single-member and multi-member constituencies. The current (thirteenth) composition of the Parliament consists of 101 deputies: 83 from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), 9 from the opposition Workers' Party, 9 from representatives of public organizations (appointed only for half the term, i.e. for 2.5 years ). According to the constitutional amendments of November 9, 2016, the maximum quota of non-party legislators was increased from 9 to 12 people. Speaker of Parliament - Tang Chuan-Tsing.
The head of state is the President, elected by direct general election for a term of 6 years. In accordance with the amendments to the constitution of November 9, 2016, the privileged right to participate in the election of the head of state is granted to an ethnic group whose representatives have not held the highest public office during the five previous presidential mandates. On September 13, 2017, Halima Yacob, a Malayan by nationality, became the President, the first female President in the history of the country (she was elected without a vote, remaining the only candidate, after the Central Election Commission did not allow two other candidates to participate in the elections as they did not meet all the criteria provided for by the electoral legislation) . The post of Prime Minister has been held by Lee Hsien Loong since 2004 (reappointed following the elections of 2006, 2011 and 2015). Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore - V. Balakrishnan.
Economy. The Republic is the most economically developed state in Southeast Asia. In terms of per capita income ($52.9 thousand in 2016), it is one of the three richest countries.
Singapore's economy is one of the most open and highly dependent on world market conditions. About 80% of it works to satisfy external demand, and the volume of exports and imports of goods and services is 3.2 times higher than the country's GDP.
In 2017, the growth rate of Singapore's economy maintained a positive trend - 3.6% (in 2016 - 2.1%). At the end of the third quarter of 2017, the service sector accounted for 68.4% of GDP, industry – 21.9%, construction sector – 4.2%. The core inflation rate (excluding prices for real estate and cars) and the consumer price index in 2017 increased by 1.5% and 0.6%, respectively.
Singapore is the largest transport hub in the region. More than 400 sea freight lines connect Singapore with 600 ports in 123 countries. Revenue from the maritime industry accounts for 7% of the city-state's economy. The Singapore Maritime Register is one of the ten largest in the world: more than 4.7 thousand ships with a displacement of 88 million gross registered tons fly under the flag of the Republic.
Changi International Airport is no less important (volume of passenger traffic - 62.3 million in 2017). The air harbor is used by more than 100 airlines to operate 7 thousand flights per week to more than 320 cities in 90 countries. In October 2017, the 4th terminal of the airport was put into operation, construction of the 5th terminal is planned to be completed by 2030.
Agriculture is practically undeveloped. Almost all food products are imported, and about half of drinking water needs are met by imports from Malaysia.
Main trading partners are China, Malaysia, EU, USA, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Republic of Korea, Thailand.
Singapore is a party to 13 bilateral (with Australia, India, Jordan, China, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Republic of Korea, USA, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Japan) and 11 multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs).
Internal political situation stable. Since the formation of independent Singapore, the People's Action Party (PAP, formed in 1954, Chairman - How Boon Wan, Secretary General - Lee Hsien Loong) has been in power. In addition to it, 22 more parties are officially registered, which do not play a significant role in the political life of the country.
Armed forces- 71.6 thousand people (ground forces, air force and navy), reservists - 432.5 thousand people. The country's defense budget in 2017 amounted to 14.2 billion sings. dollars (USD 10 billion).
Foreign policy. Singapore pursues an active and multi-vector foreign policy aimed at protecting national interests and state sovereignty, creating favorable conditions for ensuring sustainable economic development.
The main efforts on the regional track are focused on promoting integration in the ASEAN format (in 2018, Singapore assumed the chairmanship of the Ten), strengthening the central role of the Association in the affairs of the Asia-Pacific region, and building a new security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region. Its main elements in Singapore are considered to be the East Asia Summits, the ASEAN Regional Security Forums (ARS) and the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting with Dialogue Partners (ADMM Plus).
Although not a member of the G20, Singapore has been actively participating in the work of this association since 2010 (with the exception of 2012) as a representative of the so-called. Global Governance Groups (“3G”).
In May 2013, Singapore received observer status at the Arctic Council.
