PH, Singapore reaffirm commitment to maintaining regional peace, security in South China Sea
DBPH Admin2 
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam reaffirmed their commitment on Thursday to maintain and promote regional peace, security, and stability, as they cited the importance of the South China Sea to both countries.
“Aside from bilateral issues, we also discussed regional issues of mutual interest. As geographical neighbors in Southeast Asia, the South China Sea / West Philippine Sea holds great importance to both our countries,” President Marcos said during the joint press statement with the Singapore leader.
“So, we look forward to the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to maintain and to promote peace, security, and stability in the region as well as our strong support [to] the peaceful resolution of any such disputes,” he said.
As fellow founding member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines and Singapore discussed and shared their concerns on the developments in Myanmar, raising the urgency of having a peaceful solution to the domestic crisis, as prescribed under ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus.
“We have all come to the consensus that a peaceful solution, as prescribed under ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus, is more urgent now than ever before,” President Marcos said.
Marcos also thanked President Tharman and his wife, Mrs. Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, for taking the time to visit the Philippines.
The Philippines and Singapore established diplomatic relations on May 16, 1969. Last May, President Marcos participated in the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue and attended the Milken Institute Asia Summit on September 13-17, 2023.
He also made a State Visit to Singapore on September 6-7, 2022.
Last year, the country’s total trade with Singapore was at US$10.62 billion, with US$3.53 billion in exports and US$7.09 billion in imports.
In the same year, Singapore ranked as the country’s 8th largest trading partner, 6th export market (out of 205), and 7th import supplier (out of 221).
Also in 2023, approved investments from Singapore reached US$674.4 million.
There are an estimated 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Singapore.
