New Singapore-Thai group to tackle green issues

Cai Haoxiang, Straits Times 15 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE and Thailand have expanded the areas of cooperation for their civil service, with a new focus group dealing with environmental issues.

In the next few months, it will work on a proposal for a joint project to tackle pollution caused by, among others, the haze and vehicle emissions, said Mr Eng Tiang Sing, international relations director of Singapore's Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

The new group formalises a relationship of the two environment ministries that goes back about 15 years, marked by mutual visits, Mr Eng told The Straits Times yesterday during a meeting of the two countries' top civil servants.

The latest addition, announced in a joint statement, brings to 13 the fields of cooperation between the two countries, which include education, health, sports as well as science and technology.

These joint efforts come under the Civil Service Exchange Programme (CSEP), a yearly meeting that began in 1998, alternating between Thailand and Singapore.

This year's meeting in Singapore also saw the introduction of cross-sector talks, where officials from different ministries come together to discuss challenges like managing the spread of infectious diseases.

About 90 civil servants from the two countries attended the one-day meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel.

In their opening address, the foreign ministers of both countries underlined the longstanding relations between them in areas ranging from economic cooperation to defence.

Foreign Minister George Yeo said institutional ties like the CSEP created bonds of personal friendship and increased the effectiveness of joint responses in such areas as maritime security, terrorism and climate change.

He noted that Thailand, as Asean chair, had ensured the progress of the regional grouping's agenda despite its domestic difficulties.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Mr Yeo will attend a summit of Asean leaders and the bloc's six regional dialogue partners in Hua Hin, Thailand, next weekend.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, in his speech, said he hoped his colleagues could draw on Singapore's knowledge in technology, coordination among various agencies and urban planning.

He cited, in particular, Singapore's experience in beautifying the city, cleanliness and community involvement.

He said: 'There was always this feeling from our side of that sense of purpose on the side of the Singaporean Government and the people, that once a project has been decided, the whole population moves together in unison and becomes very efficient and very effective.'

Mr Kasit also called on PM Lee at the Istana. They reaffirmed the importance of CSEP as a key institutional link that underpinned the 'excellent state of bilateral relations', exchanged views on their respective economies and talked about the priorities for the Apec Economic Leaders' Meeting in Singapore next month.

Mr Lee also reiterated Singapore's commitment to work closely with Thailand to push ahead with Asean's economic integration agenda.