It was a day of firm handshakes and warm words as political leaders and defence chiefs met ahead of the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference.

Besides Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, United States Defence Secretary James Mattis and newly-minted Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu also called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana yesterday.

PM Lee congratulated Mr Mohamad on his appointment and talked about the close relations and extensive cooperation between the two countries. Mr Mohamad is on his first official visit here after his Pakatan Harapan coalition swept into power on May 9.

Mr Mattis and PM Lee reaffirmed the excellent and longstanding bilateral relations between Singapore and the US, and discussed regional security developments, including the importance of the US' continued engagement of the Asia-Pacific.

Mr Mattis had earlier met his Singapore counterpart, Dr Ng Eng Hen. Over breakfast, he stressed the continued commitment from the US to engaging countries in the region and the important role that Asean has to play as part of the US' vision for a "free and open Indo-Pacific".

The two men also talked about the situation in the Korean peninsula and the terrorism threat in South-east Asia, said a Defence Ministry statement.

Mr Mattis will speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue this morning, where he is expected to explain the US' regional role.

Yesterday, Mr Mattis and Dr Ng co-chaired an informal meeting with South-east Asian defence ministers who have gathered in town for the conference. They discussed the growing terror threat in the region, especially the dangers of returning fighters. They welcomed Singapore's push as this year's Asean chair to beef up counter-terrorism cooperation among the militaries, including sharing intelligence.

Dr Ng also met Lieutenant-General He Lei, vice-president of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Academy of Military Science, yesterday.

Both men reaffirmed their strong bilateral defence relationship. Dr Ng accepted Lt-Gen He's invitation to this year's Xiangshan Forum, a rival security conference to Shangri-La Dialogue, in September.

Both men welcomed the inaugural Asean-China Maritime Exercise later this year, which would bring Asean member states and Chinese navies closer.

The Singapore Armed Forces and the PLA interact regularly through port calls, bilateral exercises and exchanges of visits.

Dr Ng also yesterday met his counterparts from South Korea, Canada and New Zealand.</s>MAINBOARD-listed Genting Singapore said that the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore (ACRA) has approved both the company’s application to transfer its registration from the Isle of Man (IOM) to Singapore and a change of its name on June 1.

Genting Singapore revealed its intention to seek shareholders' approval for a domicile change in March 2018 at an extraordinary general meeting held on April 17, and a change in name from Genting Singapore plc to Genting Singapore Limited.

The company obtained in-principle approval from the IOM Registrar to discontinue the company’s registration in the IOM on April 23, and submitted an application to ACRA to transfer its registration to Singapore on April 25.

The leisure and hospitality player said that the proposed re-domiciliation would allow it to align its country of registration with its country of listing and where its main operations and business are situated.

Genting Singapore closed S$0.01 or 0.8 per cent down at S$1.25 on Friday before the announcement.</s>Singapore, May 31 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that ties between India and Singapore are among the warmest and closest without any contests or claims.

"When India opened up to the world and turned to the east, Singapore became a partner and a bridge between India and Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)," Modi said while addressing a business and community event here.

"Political relations between India and Singapore are among the warmest and closest," he said.

"There are no contests or claims, no irritants or doubts."

Stating that it is a natural partnership from a shared vision, he said defence relations between India and Singapore are also among the strongest.

Modi arrived here earlier in the day on the third and final leg of his five-day tour of southeast Asia after making a brief stopover in Malaysia on his way from Indonesia.

Prior to attending the business and community event, he, accompanied by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, took a tour of the India-Singapore Enterprise and Innovation Exhibition at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre here.

The exhibition was organised by the Indian High Commission in Singapore in partnership with Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore Business Federation and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation.

On Friday, Modi will hold a summit with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so in the Track I annual inter-governmental security forum.</s>SINGAPORE: Singapore has requested that the Malaysian Government clarify its position on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project, Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan said in a statement on Friday (Jun 1).

He said that Singapore made this request through "diplomatic channels" following media reports of Malaysia's decision to terminate the project. He also said that Singapore would exercise its rights to compensation if the project was terminated.

"We have informed the Malaysian Government that Singapore is continuing to incur costs on this project as it awaits Malaysia’s clarification, and that in the event Malaysia terminates the project, Singapore will study the implications and exercise our rights (including any right to compensation for expenses incurred) in accordance with the terms of the HSR bilateral agreement," said Mr Khaw.

When Malaysia proposed the project to Singapore in 2013, Singapore agreed because it was convinced of the project's benefits to Singapore, said the minister.

"We still believe that a high-speed rail link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur would be in our mutual interest, economically as well as in terms of the friendship and mutual understanding of our two peoples."

Singapore continues to support the project and to fulfill its obligations under the bilateral agreement, said Mr Khaw.

"However, it is only tenable to continue the project if Malaysia likewise supports it, and is willing to fulfil its end of the agreement," he added. "Singapore looks forward to being informed of Malaysia’s position on the matter.”

Mr Khaw's comments come after Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday confirmed that Malaysia would scrap the high-speed rail project, saying that it would not benefit the country.

Singapore's Ministry of Transport later on Monday said that it had not been formally notified of Malaysia's plans to scrap the project. The next day, Dr Mahathir said he would inform Singapore of the decision.

Construction for the project was set to begin this year, with the line expected to begin operations in 2026.</s>SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi who arrived in Singapore on Thursday will have a number of engagements in his tightly packed schedule on Friday.

The Prime Minister will receive a ceremonial welcome at the Istana (Presidential Palace), where he will meet with the Singaporean President Halimah Yacob.

Prime Minister Modi will next meet his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, after which there will be signing and exchange of MoUs and joint press statements.

After the joint presser, Prime Minister Lee will host an official lunch in honour of Prime Minister Modi.

Prime Minister Modi will next visit the Nanyang Technical University, which is ranked the best technological university and is considered a leading centre for research in Artificial Intelligence (AI). He will interact with the president and the board members of the university.

Following this, Prime Minister Modi will deliver the keynote address of the Shangri-La Dialogue, which will be the first time an Indian Prime Minister will address the event.

The Shangri-La Dialogue will be a platform to articulate regional security issues. The Prime Minister is expected to speak on India's views on peace and security in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region and India's role in the region.

Defence ministers, military chiefs and top officials from more than 40 countries will attend the event.

After the keynote address, a working dinner would be hosted by Prime Minister Lee for all dignitaries.

In a statement last week, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) Preeti Saran said that Singapore is the second largest source of investment in India, accounting for 16 percent of total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India.

"Between 2000 and 2017, over 8000 Indian companies registered in Singapore and our bilateral trade with Singapore is USD 16 billion accounting for 20 percent of India's trade with the ASEAN region. Singapore companies have become major partners in areas like urban development and planning, Smart Cities and infrastructure development including sports, aviation, industrial parks and logistics," Saran added.

She further said that India's oldest uninterrupted bilateral naval exercise is held with Singapore.

About 10 percent of Singapore nationals are of Indian origin. The total Indian population in Singapore is estimated to be about 8 lakhs.

"Over 1.3 million Indians actually visit Singapore as tourists so they are really the third largest tourist component for Singapore. Singapore has the highest concentration IIT and IIM alumni so that just shows the number of professionals that it has attracted," Saran said.

While addressing the community-cum-business event named 'Anushasan' at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Prime Minister Modi called the Indo-Singaporean relations as "a natural partnership with a shared vision".

While highlighting India's role in developing the ASEAN region, Prime Minister Modi further said, "Singapore became a partner and bridge between India and ASEAN".

Later, Prime Minister Modi attended a round-table conference with CEOs for dinner. Thirty top business leaders of Singapore participated in the conference.

Earlier, the Prime Minister visited the India-Singapore Enterprise and Innovation Exhibitions at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, which showcased innovation in frontier technologies, including artificial intelligence, fin-tech and innovation for social impact.

Before Singapore, Prime Minister visited Indonesia and Malaysia in a bid to enhance India's relations and engagements with the three countries, who are members of the ASEAN.</s>Singapore, May 31 (IANS) Stating that political relations between India and Singapore are among the warmest and closest, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the two sides are building a relationship of our age.

Addressing a business and community event, Modi described the relationship between India and Singapore as "our heritage".

Stating that this southeast Asian city state never fails to inspire, he said that it has shown that size can be no barrier to the scale of achievements.

"But, Singapore's success also lies in the harmony of its multi-cultural society, in the celebration of its diversity, which under-lies a distinct and unique Singaporean identity," he said.

Praising the role of the 800,000 people of Indian origin here, he said: "Here in Singapore, you represent the diversity of India.."

Modi also referred to the fact that Tamil is an official language in Singapore and said that children here can learn five different Indian languages in schools.

"On the foundations of this extraordinary heritage, the wealth of our human links and the strength of our shared values, India and Singapore are building a partnership of our age," he said.

"It is a relationship that truly meets the test of strategic partnership."

India and Singapore elevated their bilateral ties to that of a Strategic Partnership in 2015.

Modi said that when India opened up to the world and turned to the east, Singapore became a partner and a bridge between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc.

"Political relations between India and Singapore are among the warmest and closest," he said.

"There are no contests or claims, no irritants or doubts."

Stating that it is a natural partnership from a shared vision, he said defence relations between India and Singapore are also among the strongest.

"In international forums, we speak in one voice in the cause of a rules-based order, sovereign equality of all nations, and free and open pathways of commerce and engagement," the Indian Prime Minister said.

"Economics is the heart-beat of the relationship."

Stating that this partnership is at the front-line of India's global engagement, Modi said Singapore is both a leading investment source and destination for India.

"Singapore was the first country with which we signed a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (in 2005)," he said

He said that nearly 250 flights in each direction every week connect Singapore to 16 Indian cities and added that it is set to grow.

"India is the third largest source of tourists in Singapore and its fastest growing. Our IT companies are helping Singapore stay smart and competitive."

Modi said that in many areas of India's development priorities like smart cities, urban solutions, financial sector, skills development, ports, logistics, aviation and industrial parks, Singapore is a key partner.

"As Singapore shapes a new future for itself, India emerges as the new global frontier of opportunities," he said.

"Even in a year of deep structural reforms like the introduction of Goods and Services Tax, we remain the fastest growing major economy of the world."

Stating that economic reforms are taking place in India at a speed and a scale not known so far, he said this has helped the country move up 42 places in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business rankings.

He also gave a review of the various development and financial initiatives of his government.

Stating that India will work for an open, stable and fair international trade regime, Modi said: "And, our engagement to our east will be among the strongest, and economics will remain an integral part of our Act East Policy."

He reaffirmed that India will work Asean to reach an early conclusion to Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc and the six states with which Asean has existing free trade agreements - Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

Modi arrived here earlier on Thursday on the third and final leg of his five-day tour of southeast Asia after making a brief stopover in Malaysia on his way from Indonesia.

Prior to attending the business and community event, he, accompanied by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, took a tour of the India-Singapore Enterprise and Innovation Exhibition at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre here.

The exhibition was organised by the Indian High Commission in Singapore in partnership with Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore Business Federation and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation. The business and community event saw the international launch of the RuPay, Bhim and UPI mobile apps. The signing of several memorandums of understanding between Indian and Singapore entities in areas of education and skill development, space, and food processing was also announced. On Friday, Modi will hold a summit with Prime Minister Lee and deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so in the Track I annual inter-governmental security forum.</s>Singapore, June 1 (IANS) India and Singapore on Friday signed eight agreements, including on defence and economic cooperation, following a bilateral summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong here.

A joint statement was issued following on the conclusion of second review of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between the two countries.

India and Singapore signed the CECA in 2005. Singapore is the first country with which India signed such an agreement.

An implementation agreement was signed between Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy concerning mutual coordination, logistics and services support for naval ships, submarines and naval aircraft, including ship-borne Aviation assets, visits

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) of the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (SINGCERT), the cyber security agency of Singapore on cooperation in the area of cyber security was extended.

Another MoU was signed between between the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore on cooperation to combat illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors.

An MoU was signed between the Indian Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and the Public Service Division of Singapore on cooperation in the field of personnel management and public administration.

A fourth MoU was signed between the Department of Economic Affairs of the Indian Ministry of Finance and the Monetary Authority of Singapore on the constitution of a joint working group (JWG) on fintech between India and Singapore.

A fifth MoU was signed between the NITI Aayog of India and the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) on cooperation in the field of planning.

A separate agreement was also signed on mutual recognition on nursing.

Modi arrived here on Wednesday on the third and final leg of his five-day tour of southeast Asia.</s>On day 3 of his visit to Singapore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a busy schedule.

Here's what the PM was up to on his third day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore's former premier Goh Chok Tong jointly unveil a plaque to pay tribute at the immersion site of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes at the waterfront Clifford pier in Singapore city.

The event takes place 70 years after a part of the Mahatma's ashes were immeresed in the Singapore water with a plane showering flowers and petals.

"Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and I unveiled a plaque marking the site where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed at the Clifford Pier in Singapore," Modi tweeted.

After Gandhi's death in 1948, his ashes were sent to various parts of India and the world, including Singapore, for immersion.

WATCH: Renditions of 'Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye' and 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' played at the event

Modi visited the National Orchid Garden of Singapore where an orchid has been named after him.

The orchid is named Dendrobrium Narendra Modi and it is a strong and robust tropical orchid which produces upright inflorences up to 38 cm long with 14-20 well-arranged flowers.

The distinguished and well twisted petals of the orchid are mahogany, while sepals are reddish brown and lined with a fine margin. They are beautifully complimented with an attractive dark purple lip.

The PM also visited Singapore's oldest Hindu temple Sri Mariamman and participated in prayers.

Built in 1827, the temple was constructed for worship by immigrants from the Nagapatnam and Cuddalore districts of South India. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Mariamman, known for her power in curing epidemic illnesses and diseases. The temple is located in the heart of Chinatown.

"Blessed to have prayed at the beautiful Sri Mariamman Temple in Singapore. This Temple illustrates the vibrant cultural connect between India and Singapore," Modi tweeted.

"Reinforcing our strong cultural connect, PM @narendramodi visited the Mariamman Temple," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

Modi also visited the Chulia mosque which was built by Chulia Muslim merchants from India's Coromandal Coast under the leadership of Anser Sahib. This is one of the earliest mosques in Singapore. The mosque was established in 1826. He was presented a green shawl at the mosque.

After the mosque, Modi visited the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple was built in 2007, but the temple's richly designed interiors and comprehensive exhibits on Buddhist art and history tell stories of culture over hundreds of years old.

Modi was accompanied to the temple, which gets its name from what the Buddhists regard as the left canine tooth of Buddha, by Culture Minister Grace Fu Hai Yien.

Modi waves to supporters outside the Indian Heritage Centre.

The Indian Heritage Centre in Singapore showcases the culture, heritage and history of Indian Singaporeans. Located at the Campbell Road thoroughfare in the Little India precinct, the centre was launched on May 7, 2015.

Modi purchases a Madhubani painting using a RuPay card during his visit to the Indian Heritage Centre in Singapore. Modi received a rapturous welcome on his arrival at the centre, which traces the journey of Indian community in the Southeast Asian region.</s>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India and Singapore will soon upgrade their Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) following a bilateral summit with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in Singapore during which both sides called for regional peace and stability.

The two sides also signed eight agreements across different sectors after the summit. “We are happy with the second review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement,” Modi said in a joint address to the media with Lee.

“But both our countries agree that this is not our target, but just another milestone,” he said. “Officials from both our countries will soon discuss how to upgrade this agreement.”

India and Singapore signed the CECA in 2005. Singapore is the first country with which India signed such a treaty. On his part, Lee said that bilateral trade between India and Singapore has doubled to $25 billion since the CECA came into effect.

He also said that as the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Singapore will work with India in the regional security architecture. Modi said that while Singapore is a significant source of foreign direct investment for India, the southeast Asia city state is also a top destination of Indian investments.

“I am happy that Indian companies use Singapore as a springboard to expand to other Asean countries,” he said. “Investments by Singapore companies in India are rising. There are unparalleled opportunities for Singapore companies in significant sectors in India’s development.”

Stating that air traffic between India and Singapore is increasing rapidly, the Indian Prime Minister said that the two countries will soon sign an air services agreement. He also said that both countries are putting a lot of emphasis on defence and security in terms of tactical cooperation.

Congratulating the navies of the two countries for the 25th year of the Singapore India Bilateral Maritime Exercise (Simbex), he said trilateral exercises will also be started soon. “In the times to come, our cooperation in terms of cyber security, and fighting extremism and terrorism will attain more importance,” Modi said.

“We agree these are the biggest threats to our two countries.” Modi said that he and Prime Minister Lee also discussed regional and global issues.

“We reviewed our respective views on maritime security and reiterated our commitment to a rules-based order,” he said. “We have agreed that an open, stable and suitable international trade regime should be maintained.”

The Indian Prime Minister also stressed on the unity and centrality of Asean and regional stability through the Asean institutions. He also said that he reiterated Indian’s commitment to a quick conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement between the 10 Asean member states and the six states with which this regional bloc has existing free trade agreements – Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. The agreements signed on Friday included those on naval cooperation, cyber security and mutual recognition on nursing.

According to a joint statement issued, both sides reiterated their desire and determination to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity in the region and beyond. “The Prime Ministers affirmed their resolve to fight against global terrorism, terror organisations and networks and all those who encourage, support and finance them,” it stated.

Following the summit, Modi took a tour of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) here and participated in a question-answer session with NTU President Subra Suresh during which he said that every disruption should not be seen as a destruction.

“People believe that disruption leads to destruction,” Modi said during a conversation with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) President Subra Suresh. “But I think this is wrong as I believe that disruption is linked to human talent and creativity,” he said in response to the world being at a nascent stage of the fourth industrial revolution.

Stating that technology is what empowers people, Modi said that a technology-driven society breaks social barriers. “Technology has to be affordable and user-friendly,” he said. As part of his official engagements, Modi also handed over the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour, to former Singapore diplomat Tommy Koh.

In an unprecedented move to promote India-Asean ties under New Delhi’s Act East Policy, Modi announced awarding of the Padma Shri to one achiever from each of the regional bloc’s 10 member states. The Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Modi also gifted Prime Minister Lee a replica of a sixth century Buddhagupta Stele that bears Sanskrit phrases in Pallava script and serves as important evidence of the transmission of Buddhism from India to southeast Asia, particularly the Straits and the Malay peninsular region.

Earlier in the day, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Istana, the presidential palace of Singapore following which he called on President Halimah Yacob.

Later in the evening, he will deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so in the Track I annual inter-governmental security forum.

Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday on the third and final leg of his five-day three-nation tour of southeast Asia. This is his second official visit to Singapore as Prime Minister.</s>Singapore, June 1 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India and Singapore will soon upgrade their Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) following a bilateral summit with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong here.

"We are happy with the second review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement," Modi said in a joint address to the media with Lee following the summit.

"But both our countries agree that this is not our target, but just another milestone," he said.

"Officials from both our countries will soon discuss how to upgrade this agreement."

India and Singapore signed the CECA in 2005. Singapore is the first country with which India signed such a treaty.

On his part, Lee said that bilateral trade between India and Singapore has doubled to $25 billion since the CECA came into effect.

He also said that as the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Singapore will work with India in the regional security architecture.

Modi said that while Singapore is a significant source of foreign direct investment for India, the southeast Asia city state is also a top destination of Indian investments.

"I am happy that Indian companies use Singapore as a springboard to expand to other Asean countries," he said.

"Investments by Singapore companies in India are rising. There are unparalleled opportunities for Singapore companies in significant sectors in India's development."

Stating that air traffic between India and Singapore is increasing rapidly, the Indian Prime Minister said that the two countries will soon sign an air services agreement.

He also said that both countries are putting a lot of emphasis on defence and security in terms of tactical cooperation.

Congratulating the navies of the two countries for the 25th year of the Singapore India Bilateral Maritime Exercise (Simbex), he said trilateral exercises will also be started soon.

"In the times to come, our cooperation in terms of cyber security, and fighting extremism and terrorism will attain more importance," Modi said.

"We agree these are the biggest threats to our two countries."

Modi said that he and Prime Minister Lee also discussed regional and global issues.

"We reviewed our respective views on maritime security and reiterated our commitment to a rules-based order," he said.

"We have agreed that an open, stable and suitable international trade regime should be maintained."

The Indian Prime Minister also stressed on the unity and centrality of Asean and regional stability through the Asean institutions.

He also said that he reiterated Indian's commitment to a quick conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement between the 10 Asean member states and the six states with which this regional bloc has existing free trade agreements - Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

Modi arrived here on Wednesday on the third and final leg of his five-nation tour of southeast Asia.

This is his second official visit to Singapore as Prime Minister. He had been to Singapore in March 2015 to attend the state funeral of the city state's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and then again in November the same year for his first official visit.
The annual three-day regional security forum begins in Singapore.