In the next two days, Singapore will be in all of the world headlines. Two major summits are coming up — the ASEAN Summit and the East Asia one. Vladimir Putin paid a state visit there in anticipation of these meetings at the highest possible level.
Today Singapore is one of the world's main magnets of finance. No one remembers that in the 1960s it was a poor port city. But the promotion of business and the continuity of power — principles that the politics rests on — have changed the state, which Vertinsky once sang about as a "banana-lemon" Singapore. Now it's electronic-financial.
Denis Davydov has the details.
There are many aircraft in the sky over Singapore these days. Military aircraft are flying over the city which hosts several summits at a time. Leaders of almost three dozen countries are coming here. The security measures should be adequate. Singaporeans meticulously check everyone. The staff of the administration of the Russian president is no exception. This is a state visit. Southeast Asia is now seeing quickly changing off-season weather. It can start raining at any time. That's why the host party kindly brought covered airstairs for the Russian president's aircraft. The city welcomes the guests with the heat of over 80°F and the air saturated with moisture.
Dmitry Peskov, Spokesman for the President of Russia:
- Do you have an air conditioner? Then switch it on, OK?
- It's on.
- Make it strong.
Vladimir Putin's visit is of the highest, state, level. This is the first time that he's arrived in the country. The ceremonial is appropriate. The guard of honor, military orchestra, soldiers in snow-white parade uniforms rehearse outdoors where there is no air conditioning. For Singaporeans, it's muggy like in a Russian bathhouse. They take off their caps to cool down.
The meeting ceremony for Vladimir Putin takes place in the Istana Palace. The building is 150 years old. Under the British protectorate, it hosted the governor's residence. As Singapore gained independence it became the residence of the heads of state. But the current President Halimah Yacob only works here as she prefers to live in a city apartment. She is not only a politician and public figure but also the mother of many children.
The Singaporean president has five children. The hospitable hostess approaches the car to meet Vladimir Putin, but comes to the wrong door and appears to be on the wrong side. The security guards conform to the female president. They are ladies with short hair, earrings, and a couple of guns in a belt.
This year, the Russian-Singaporean relations have a 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties. The hosts put on symbolic pins to mark the occasion. During the formal dinner, the presidents discussed the strong friendship between the two countries.
Vladimir Putin: "In Singapore, as far as we know, there's a saying: even water is honey when you're with your friends. The relations between us are really based on mutual respect and trust. Let me offer a toast to the well-being and prosperity of Russia and Singapore, our friendship and the well-being of Madam President!"
They raised glasses with light drinks to the strong Russian-Singaporean friendship. Vladimir Putin drank wine, and the Singaporean president drank juice.
Halimah Yacob, President of Singapore: "As a Russian saying goes, one can cross a whole land for a friend. Despite the distance and differences between our countries, we celebrate 50 years of friendship. We expect to further strengthen our relations in the next 50 years".
Moscow and Singapore are strengthening economic ties: the turnover increased by 95% last year. Singapore is interested not only in Russian energy sources but also in Russian high-tech products.
Sergey Pronin, CEO of the Russia-Singapore Business Council: "We ensure that Russian companies can find partners, build distribution networks, and either with the support of Singapore or independently enter to third-country markets".
Singapore is developing, among other things, thanks to highly qualified foreign employees. Several thousand Russians live and work here. The Russian diaspora meets in this private temple. This is an inconspicuous building without domes or bell ringing.
"When walking along a narrow street, one can see a mosque, then a Buddhist temple a few steps away, and an Indian temple nearby. Therefore, it is only an Orthodox church that is missing. Indeed, everything else is already here".
An Orthodox temple will appear in Singapore. It'll be in the Russian cultural center, the construction of which will begin soon. The cornerstone was laid today.
Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia: "We hope that the future complex will become a hospitable Russian home for anyone interested in the history and modern life of the homeland of Tolstoy, Tchaikovsky, Gagarin, that it'll become another bright attraction of this city rich in its diversity".
Vladimir Putin is to hold a number of bilateral meetings during the visit. Today, for example, he met with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Vladimir Putin: "I remember awarding you the Order of Friendship in 2003, being in your country. Over the years, the relations between our countries have developed. And by and large, they are developing quite well. But still, there is a lot to be done".
Vladimir Putin’s trip to Singapore is unusually long for an overseas visit. It'll last for three days. Here he will attend the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN-Russia Summit.
Denis Davydov, Oleg Makarov, Alexander Medvedev, Andrey Yurchuk, and Natalia Lundovskaya, for Vesti from Singapore.
