SINGAPORE, Feb 2 (QNA/APP): Germany and Singapore have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening a rules-based international partnership in the areas of security and trade, amid growing uncertainty and shifts in the global order.
Speaking on Monday during a meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the world is witnessing profound geopolitical changes, noting that international cooperation and multilateral institutions are increasingly being called into question.
Wadephul added that both Germany and Singapore are well aware that their freedom, security and prosperity depend on a stable international order governed by reliable rules.
For his part, Balakrishnan said he believes there remains a critical mass of countries committed to a rules-based world order, multilateralism, the UN charter, free and fair trade, economic integration, and global supply chains.
He called on Germany and the European Union to expand cooperation with Singapore and the wider Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, raising the prospect of a future free trade agreement between the EU and ASEAN countries.