Appendix B - Speeches by Singapore's President and Malaysia's Agong, Singapore, 23 January 2006

Summary

1. Speech by President S. R. Nathan at the State Banquet Held in Honour of Their Majesties the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Fauziah at the Istana, Singapore, 23 January 2006.

Your Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, Tuanku Syed

Sirajuddin,

Your Majesty, the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Fauziah,

Your Royal Highness, the Regent of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin,

Your Royal Highness, the Crown Princess of Perlis Tuanku Shareen,

Your Highness, the Tengku Putri Mahkota Perlis Dato' Seri Sharifah,

Honourable Ministers,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

It gives my wife and me and the Government and people of Singapore great pleasure to welcome Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Your Highness and the distinguished members of Your Majesties' delegation to Singapore.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the warm welcome extended by Your Majesties to my wife and me during our State Visit to Malaysia last April. I recall with much fondness the warmth and kindness which we experienced during our visit. We returned with many happy and enduring memories. It is therefore a special privilege for us to be able to reciprocate Your Majesties' gracious welcome and friendship during your State Visit to Singapore. We hope Your Majesties will have a memorable stay here.

Your Majesties' State Visit symbolises and reaffirms the warm and close ties between our two countries. The long-standing ties of history, geography, economics and kinship have endured the test of time and continue to bind us together. In recent years, our relations have broadened and deepened, marked by greater contact and cooperation between our leaders, officials and businesses. Our close interdependence continues to commit us to a common future in the region.

Your Majesties,

A new world is emerging right before us. Globalisation and new challenges confront us. The growth of China and India unfolds new opportunities, as well as fresh challenges, to both our countries. We must take a more enlightened view and focus on this larger context, so that we can work together to respond to it.