SINGAPORE - With a more complex external environment and deepening economic challenges, policies that once worked may no longer be effective.

That is why the Government must respond to this new reality by working with community partners to come up with new ideas and approaches, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at a Nov 29 dinner organised in his honour.

These values include prizing education as a means to broaden one’s horizons and uplift the family; putting community before self by advocating social harmony and multi-racialism; and working for the benefit of future generations, said PM Wong in Mandarin.

“My team and I are committed to working hand in hand with the Chinese community to uphold common values, strengthen cooperation, and build a better home for future generations,” he said.

At the dinner at Hilton Singapore Orchard, PM Wong also thanked Chinese community leaders, many of whom he had interacted with in his 25-year career in public service.

Besides helping to strengthen social cohesion, preserve Chinese Singaporean culture and assist local companies to expand abroad, he credited the community’s leaders for fostering mutual trust and respect between the Government and the community.

“Once a government loses the trust of the people, it cannot govern effectively. This has happened in other countries, and it is the people who end up suffering,” he said.

“In Singapore, we are fortunate that the people have a high level of trust in the government. This is because of the efforts of the l...