PUBLISHED ONSeptember 02, 2026 9:11 AMUPDATEDSeptember 02, 2026 9:15 AMBYSean LerASEAN neighbours Singapore and Thailand are looking to deepen cooperation not just bilaterally, but on initiatives that could benefit the wider region.
"Singapore and Thailand are like-minded partners with a shared interest in a strong and united ASEAN," Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during a joint press conference with Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul after their first Singapore-Thailand Leaders' Retreat in Bangkok on Wednesday (Sept 2).
PM Wong said the two countries' excellent bilateral ties, underpinned by a high degree of trust and strong institutional links, give them a "unique opportunity" to work together across their successive ASEAN chairmanships.
Singapore will chair ASEAN in 2027, followed by Thailand in 2028.
Noting that some regional initiatives require sustained effort over several years, PM Wong said he and PM Anutin had agreed for their teams to develop a multi-year agenda that would build continuity and momentum from one chairmanship to the next.
"By doing so, we can sustain the momentum on important initiatives, and make greater progress on issues that matter to our region," PM Wong said.
During Anutin's one-day visit to Singapore on Nov 7 last year, the two leaders hailed the "tremendous potential" in bilateral relations between their countries.
PM Wong described the relationship as one built on "trust, respect and friendship" in his remarks at a joint press conference after their meeting that day.
Apart from agreements on rice trade and healthcare inked during that visit, the two leaders also agreed to strengthen cooperation in existing areas such as defence and security, while stepping up collaboration in new areas such as carbon emissions reduction, green investments and energy security.
At the Leaders' Retreat, the prime ministers reviewed progress in these areas and discussed how to turn shared priorities into concrete projects that would benefit Singaporeans and Thais.
They identified three key areas for further cooperation: food and energy security, emerging technologies, and connectivity.
On the first area, PM Wong said he and his Thai counterpart discussed ways to strengthen food supply chains through closer collaboration between food producers and traders.
He added that the two countries will also work more closely to strengthen energy resilience, including by advancing the ASEAN Power Grid and deepening cooperation on carbon credits.
Turning to emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), the prime ministers noted that both countries have invested in AI and are looking at how to deploy it more widely across their economies.
"There is scope for us to work together on practical applications – including in areas where both our countries have strengths, like manufacturing, healthcare and tourism," said PM Wong.
He added that this can extend to sharing experiences on the safe and responsible deployment of AI, while encouraging innovation and adoption.
Meanwhile, as Thailand upgrades its infrastructure and improves connections between its industrial centres, transport networks and ports, PM Wong said that Singapore can be a natural partner in these efforts.
He added that Singaporean companies, including PSA, have the capabilities and experience that can contribute to Thailand's plans.
Under the connectivity front, the two countries will also identify new opportunities to collaborate in fintech and the wider digital economy.
At the Leaders' Retreat, the two prime ministers also witnessed the exchange of an agreement on cooperation in social sector development.
Signed by Singapore's Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli and his Thai counterpart, Nikom Soemklang, the two countries agreed to cooperate on five areas of social sector development.
These include personnel exchange between relevant institutions; sharing knowledge and research on social welfare policies and programmes; visits to social service institutions; joint capacity-building activities; and other mutually agreed areas of cooperation in women, family, and social welfare and development.
Rounding up the press conference, PM Wong and Thai PM Anutin reaffirmed the strength of the Singapore-Thailand partnership.
"Our ties are broad and substantive, founded on trust, and full of potential," PM Wong said.
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