(adds statements after the bilateral meeting)
London, Sep 9 (EFE).- The United Kingdom and Singapore signed an agreement this Saturday during the G20 summit in India to strengthen the commercial and security relationship, Downing Street, the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister, reported. Rishi Sunak.
Sunak closed the deal in a bilateral meeting with his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, on the sidelines of the 18th meeting of the Group of Twenty, to which the African Union officially joined today.
The leaders underlined “the importance of the document to elevate the already strong partnership and strengthen joint work in the areas of trade, security and science and technology,” Downing Street said in a statement.
Sunak highlighted at the meeting that the signing of the Strategic Partnership “is the latest example of the United Kingdom’s pivot towards the Indo-Pacific”, an “important diplomatic move” that leads it to “invest more in that increasingly crucial region.” .
The two heads of government also analyzed collaboration on artificial intelligence, with a view to the United Kingdom hosting the first security summit in this field in November.
According to Downing Street, the pact with the Asian country will improve trade and investment ties and collaboration in areas such as technology and clean energy.
In addition, it will strengthen cooperation in security, scientific innovation and research and development, says the London note.
Following the signing of this agreement, the United Kingdom and Singapore “will work to conclude a new and modern bilateral investment treaty”, the first that this country has negotiated since its departure from the European Union.
The British Government points out that Singapore is one of the “closest and most dynamic” partners of the United Kingdom in that area of ​​Asia, with a trade relationship valued at 21 billion pounds (24.5 billion euros) that represents 40% of its trade. total with Southeast Asia. EFE
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