Official Go to of Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon, 4 May 2026

Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong and Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon held the inaugural Singapore-New Zealand Annual Leaders’ Meeting in Singapore on 4 May 2026.

The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the nice and cozy and longstanding relations between Singapore and New Zealand, underpinned by the New Zealand-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) launched in October 2025. They welcomed the nice progress in bilateral cooperation throughout the six pillars of the CSP, particularly Trade and Economics; Defence, Security, and Safety; Science, Technology, and Innovation; People-to-People; Climate Change and Green Economy; and Supply Chains and Connectivity. As trusted companions with a shared strategic outlook, Singapore and New Zealand have launched into many pathfinding initiatives to advance frequent strategic priorities, together with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), the Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership in addition to the Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA) which is at the moment below negotiation. The Prime Ministers additionally mentioned enhancing cooperation between ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum throughout Singapore and New Zealand’s respective Chairmanships in 2027. They additionally reaffirmed the deep and in depth defence and safety relationship between Singapore and New Zealand and welcomed additional cooperation in forward-looking areas below the CSP.

Following the Annual Leaders’ Meeting, the Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES) – the world’s first legally-binding bilateral provide chain resilience settlement. It underscores Singapore’s and New Zealand’s dedication to facilitate bilateral commerce flows even in instances of provide chain disruptions. Both sides have dedicated to not impose pointless export restrictions on agreed important provides, together with meals, gas, healthcare, chemical, and building merchandise. The AOTES factsheet ready by the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry is at Annex A.

The Prime Ministers welcomed the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on healthcare cooperation, which can strengthen alternate of information and finest practices in areas comparable to pandemic preparedness and provide chain resilience for healthcare provides. They additionally welcomed the conclusion of the Implementing Arrangement on the Use of Electronic Certification for Trade in Food and Primary Products, which can streamline agri-food commerce certification processes.  

The full textual content of the Prime Ministers’ Joint Statement is appended at Annex B.

Prime Minister Wong and Prime Minister Luxon delivered the opening tackle on the Singapore-New Zealand Leadership Forum within the morning. Prime Minister Wong inspired companies from Singapore and New Zealand to deepen their business hyperlinks and develop revolutionary options collectively. He additionally inspired extra New Zealand companies to make use of Singapore as a base to increase into the better Southeast Asia area.

Prime Minister Wong will host an official lunch for Prime Minister Luxon on 4 May. Prime Minister Luxon will meet Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng and name on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on 5 May.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

SINGAPORE 

4 MAY 2026

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Annex A

Factsheet on Singapore-New Zealand Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES)

 

1. Singapore and New Zealand signed an Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES) on 4 May 2026 on the Singapore-New Zealand Annual Leaders’ Meeting in Singapore.

2. The Agreement was signed by Singapore Minister-in-charge of Energy, Science and Technology Dr Tan See Leng, and New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay. The signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Key Features

3. The AOTES displays each nations’ longstanding dedication to uphold free and unimpeded commerce. It is the world’s first legally-binding bilateral provide chain resilience settlement. It shall be included into the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP) – the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Singapore and New Zealand.

4. Under the Agreement, Singapore and New Zealand commit to not impose pointless export restrictions on agreed important provides, together with meals, gas, healthcare, chemical and building merchandise.

5. The Agreement additionally establishes a framework for each nations to facilitate the motion of products, share data and have interaction in consultations earlier than or throughout provide chain disruptions.

6. This will present companies and customers on either side with better confidence and stability throughout provide chain disruptions. 

7. Following signing, the Agreement will enter into power upon the completion of home procedures on either side.

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For media enquiries, please contact:

Lu Huijun

Senior Assistant Director, Communications and Engagement Division 

Ministry of Trade and Industry 

lu_huijun@mti.gov.sg

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Annex B

JOINT STATEMENT BY SINGAPORE AND NEW ZEALAND AT THE 1^ST SINGAPORE-NEW ZEALAND ANNUAL LEADERS’ MEETING

 

4 MAY 2026

 

1.    Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held the inaugural Singapore-New Zealand Annual Leaders’ Meeting in Singapore. The Annual Leaders’ Meeting was launched as a part of the New Zealand-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2025.

2.    The Leaders reaffirmed the superb state of our bilateral relations, underpinned by deep mutual belief, shared strategic pursuits and a shared dedication to an open and inclusive worldwide order. As small, open, outward-looking economies, we’re robust advocates for a secure, resilient and rules-based world system underpinned by worldwide norms and guidelines that assist the free motion of products and folks. These are important for the prosperity and safety of our folks and our area.

Responding to the gas disaster

3.    Recognising the numerous financial impacts of the present Middle East disaster, we known as on the events to uphold their dedication to the ceasefire and work to discover a everlasting negotiated resolution to this battle.

4.    We reaffirmed the significance of upholding the suitable of transit passage within the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to all different Straits Used for International Navigation, in accordance with worldwide regulation as mirrored within the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Leaders known as for the unconditional, unrestricted, and quick re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The proper of transit passage with out restrictions or tolls is the bedrock of worldwide commerce.

5.    The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is having a big influence on world provide chains, notably on oil, gasoline and petrochemical merchandise in addition to important items and significant downstream derivatives comparable to fertilizers and plastics for packaging. These impacts are being felt closely within the Indo-Pacific and Pacific areas.

6.    Leaders reiterated their dedication that we’ll assist one another by way of this disaster. In this context, they agreed to the next:

• We will chorus from imposing trade-restrictive measures on important items. We have demonstrated this by signing our world-first Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES).

• We will be sure that commerce strains stay open, together with by way of land routes, air and sea freight, to facilitate the stream of vitality provides, together with petroleum oils, and different important items. We name on different buying and selling companions to affix us in guaranteeing world vitality provide chains are stored open.

• We job officers to remain in shut contact on our respective gas administration plans and the way finest to assist one another, together with by way of the Supply Chain Working Group.

Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

 

7.    In the midst of accelerating world uncertainty, the Leaders recognised the significance of working with trusted mates and companions. In this context, Singapore and New Zealand elevated our bilateral relationship to a CSP in 2025. The CSP is a forward-looking and impressive framework to advance collaboration in areas comparable to provide chain resilience, digital economic system, and inexperienced transition to make sure our partnership stays related and attentive to evolving world challenges. The Leaders counseled the robust progress of initiatives below the CSP.

8.    The Leaders welcomed the signing of the AOTES. The AOTES is the first-of-its-kind, legally binding bilateral settlement to boost provide chain resilience and to assist make sure the continued stream of important provides, together with meals, gas, chemical compounds, building and healthcare merchandise. This will present customers and firms with better confidence and stability. This is particularly pertinent amidst the a number of disruptions to world provide chains. Leaders tasked officers to discover alternatives for additional cooperation on gas provide.

9.    The Leaders additionally reaffirmed the significance of strengthening financial collaboration and enterprise ties and welcomed the profitable internet hosting of the Singapore-New Zealand Leadership Forum. The Forum introduced collectively prime trade leaders from each New Zealand and Singapore to debate subjects related to the financial and enterprise atmosphere, and to boost financial, coverage and enterprise linkages between the 2 nations. The Prime Ministers inspired enterprise leaders to remain linked and proceed their dialogue.

10. The Leaders welcomed new collaborative initiatives together with signature of the Implementing Arrangement on using Electronic Certification for Trade in Food and Primary Products to streamline agri-food commerce certification processes and improve effectivity for companies in each nations, and progress below the just lately launched Strategic Food Partnership that goals to strengthen meals safety and improve provide chains.

11. The Leaders additionally welcomed the five-year Memorandum of Understanding on healthcare cooperation signed by our Ministries of Health. This helps data sharing in areas comparable to pandemic preparedness and provide chain resilience for healthcare provides.

12. The Leaders welcomed the collaboration between the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority to facilitate fairness market connectivity and discover a mutual recognition regime for prospectuses. This would make it simpler for issuers in each markets to entry and lift capital in each jurisdictions in a extra streamlined style, which might assist innovation and financial progress.

13. On defence cooperation, the Leaders have been happy to notice that Singapore and New Zealand have made good progress on strengthening our shut and long-standing defence relationship in keeping with the commitments below the CSP, to make sure that it stays strategically related and match for the longer term. There is obvious want and intent on either side to increase our cooperation into new and rising areas, as our militaries function extra frequent platforms and face comparable challenges. In explicit, each Leaders counseled good progress within the areas of uncrewed capabilities and the exploration of latest plans and modalities for coaching workout routines comparable to Exercise Thunder Warrior. Both Leaders stay up for seeing this develop additional.

 

Trade

 

14. The Prime Ministers famous the deep commerce and financial cooperation between Singapore and New Zealand, underpinned by the bilateral Singapore-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (SNZCEP) which entered into power 25 years in the past this 12 months. The SNZCEP has grown two-way commerce and contributed to the financial wellbeing of each nations. They affirmed our shared dedication to strengthen the WTO and the rules-based multilateral buying and selling system. They additionally acknowledged the distinctive worth of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the place Singapore and New Zealand collaborate intently.

15. The Prime Ministers additionally welcomed progress negotiating the Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA), as a brand new frontier of cooperation between New Zealand, Singapore and different associate nations to unlock the commerce and funding alternatives of a low-carbon future. The GEPA goals to develop convergence in direction of frequent guidelines and requirements within the inexperienced economic system. This will facilitate inexperienced economic system alternatives, decrease compliance prices for companies, and likewise encourage funding in technological innovation in areas like low-emissions fuels and sustainable, productive and resilient meals methods.

16. The Leaders underscored the worth of the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT Partnership) as a robust platform for like-minded, pro-trade companions to collaborate on strengthening the rules-based buying and selling system. Together we’re advancing open and honest commerce, guaranteeing safe and resilient provide chains, and advancing digital and paperless commerce.

17. Both nations welcomed the improve of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and can proceed to work collectively on the continuing implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. New Zealand and Singapore assist the enlargement of present agreements such because the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), RCEP and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) to incorporate economies which might be prepared and in a position to totally adhere to the agreements’ excessive requirements. 

 

Regional and world

 

18. In our respective capacities because the incoming Chairs of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and ASEAN in 2027, the Leaders agreed to discover methods to boost ASEAN-PIF relations and foster inter-regional cooperation. The Leaders reaffirmed their dedication to supporting the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent in addition to the ASEAN Community Vision 2045: Resilient, Innovative, Dynamic and People-Centred ASEAN and its Strategic Plans, and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). Singapore additionally welcomes New Zealand turning into a Comprehensive Strategic Partner of ASEAN final 12 months.

19. The Prime Ministers exchanged views on regional and worldwide problems with frequent curiosity and concern, together with the Russia-Ukraine battle and the continuing battle within the Middle East. They underscored Singapore and New Zealand’s dedication to worldwide regulation, together with UNCLOS, and the ideas enshrined within the UN Charter, and reaffirmed each nations’ respect for the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of all states. In this vein, the Prime Ministers reaffirmed their dedication to working collectively to strengthen the United Nations and assist a resilient, rules-based multilateral system that underpins world stability and prosperity.

20. The Leaders reaffirmed their resolve to navigate the longer term collectively, in keeping with the imaginative and prescient set out within the CSP, to form a resilient and forward-looking partnership that advantages our nations, our peoples and our area.

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