Singapore and Germany announce a renewed Joint Declaration for their Strategic Partnership as Chancellor Merz makes his first visit
27 October 2026
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz paid an official visit to Singapore on 27 and 28 October, his first visit to the city-state. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong received him, and the two leaders held a bilateral meeting. After the talks the two leaders unveiled a renewed Joint Declaration for the Singapore-Germany Strategic Partnership, together with a Joint Work Plan on the digital economy, AI, and research and innovation. Wong welcomed the growing engagement of Germany with ASEAN, and both sides agreed to strengthen ASEAN-Germany and ASEAN-EU ties. At Parliament House an orchid was named Vanda Friedrich Merz in honour of the Chancellor. His programme also included a call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and he gave the 49th Singapore Lecture, organised by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Singapore was the first stop of a tour of Asia that went on to Japan and South Korea.
In plain words
Strategic Partnership Singapore-Germany Strategic Partnership — The framework for ties between the two countries, now renewed with a Joint Work Plan.
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations — The ten-member Southeast Asian grouping, with its Secretariat in Jakarta.
ISEAS ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute — A Singapore research institute on Southeast Asia that organises the Singapore Lecture.