Singapore plans to open an embassy in Israel for the first time since the two countries formed official ties decades earlier.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
On Monday, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met with his Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, who informed Lapid that the government intends to officially open an embassy in Israel.
The two states first established diplomatic relations in 1965, and though Israel opened its embassy in Singapore in 1968, the Southeast Asian nation sufficed with setting up an honorary consulate in Tel Aviv.
Today, my friend Singaporean FM @VivianBala informed me of his country's decision to open an embassy in Israel for the first time since our countries established diplomatic relations. This decision is further evidence of the good & special relations between our countries. ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/G58GcDgkc7
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid? (@yairlapid) March 21, 2022
Lapid welcomed the news of establishing an official embassy and explained that the announcement reflects the strong bilateral ties shared by Israel and Singapore.
"Singapore's decision is further evidence of the positive and special relations between the two countries," the foreign minister said on his official Twitter account.
Israel and Singapore already cooperate in a number of areas, including in technology, trade, investment - and the city-state's foreign ministry said that establishing an official embassy will "strengthen" these partnerships.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
Balakrishnan additionally signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel's Technology Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen to pave the way for cooperation between the two states in the field of artificial intelligence, according to a press release from Singapore's foreign ministry.
During his visit, Balakrishnan also met with a number of Palestinian Authority officials and announced that Singapore will open a representative office in Ramallah to help coordinate assistance to the PA.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
