SINGAPORE: World leaders congratulated Mr Lawrence Wong after he became Singapore's fourth Prime Minister on Wednesday (May 15).
Mr Wong, 51, was sworn in on the front lawn of the Istana on Wednesday night, along with the rest of his Cabinet.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday congratulated Mr Wong on his appointment as Prime Minister, according to Xinhua news agency.
Mr Li said that over the last 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Singapore and China have deepened political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various fields.
Mr Li added that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Singapore relations and expressed his willingness to maintain close communication and cooperation with Mr Wong to promote high-quality cooperation between the two countries.
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shakes hands with China's Premier Li Qiang at a bilateral meeting in Beijing on Dec 6, 2023. (Photo: X/Lawrence Wong)
In a post on X, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Mr Wong on assuming office.
Mr Modi wrote that he looks forward to working closely with Mr Wong to further advance both countries' strategic partnership.
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi congratulated Mr Wong in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
He said that under Mr Wong's leadership, "we are confident that Singapore will continue to thrive and prosper".
Mr Zahid also said that he is looking forward to further deepening both countries' partnership in areas such as economic development, education and trade.
Other Malaysian ministers such as Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh also extended their congratulations to Mr Wong.
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida extended his congratulations to Mr Wong and conveyed his intention to work together to further strengthen bilateral relations.
This is with a view to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Japan-Singapore diplomatic relations in 2026, Mr Kishida said in his congratulatory letter on Wednesday.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong making a courtesy call on Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on May 26, 2023. (Photo: Facebook/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in his message of congratulations to Mr Wong, said it was a pleasure to have met him at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting and hope they will have an opportunity to meet again in person soon.
Mr Sunak noted that there is "enormous potential for our two countries to achieve even more together".
"I am confident that together we will ensure that our partnership delivers even more for our citizens."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Mr Wong and said the US looks forward to further strengthening "the US-Singapore strategic partnership and uphold international norms and standards in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world".
"We will also continue to bolster our strong economic, security, and people-to-people ties for the benefit of the American and Singaporean peoples," Mr Blinken said.
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Mr Wong, 51, was sworn in on the front lawn of the Istana on Wednesday night, along with the rest of his Cabinet.
CHINA
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday congratulated Mr Wong on his appointment as Prime Minister, according to Xinhua news agency.
Mr Li said that over the last 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Singapore and China have deepened political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various fields.
Mr Li added that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Singapore relations and expressed his willingness to maintain close communication and cooperation with Mr Wong to promote high-quality cooperation between the two countries.
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shakes hands with China's Premier Li Qiang at a bilateral meeting in Beijing on Dec 6, 2023. (Photo: X/Lawrence Wong)
INDIA
In a post on X, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Mr Wong on assuming office.
Mr Modi wrote that he looks forward to working closely with Mr Wong to further advance both countries' strategic partnership.
MALAYSIA
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi congratulated Mr Wong in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
He said that under Mr Wong's leadership, "we are confident that Singapore will continue to thrive and prosper".
Mr Zahid also said that he is looking forward to further deepening both countries' partnership in areas such as economic development, education and trade.
Other Malaysian ministers such as Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh also extended their congratulations to Mr Wong.
JAPAN
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida extended his congratulations to Mr Wong and conveyed his intention to work together to further strengthen bilateral relations.
This is with a view to the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Japan-Singapore diplomatic relations in 2026, Mr Kishida said in his congratulatory letter on Wednesday.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong making a courtesy call on Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on May 26, 2023. (Photo: Facebook/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
UK
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in his message of congratulations to Mr Wong, said it was a pleasure to have met him at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting and hope they will have an opportunity to meet again in person soon.
Mr Sunak noted that there is "enormous potential for our two countries to achieve even more together".
"I am confident that together we will ensure that our partnership delivers even more for our citizens."
US
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Mr Wong and said the US looks forward to further strengthening "the US-Singapore strategic partnership and uphold international norms and standards in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world".
"We will also continue to bolster our strong economic, security, and people-to-people ties for the benefit of the American and Singaporean peoples," Mr Blinken said.
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