SINGAPORE - Despite its limitations as a small state whose prosperity has depended on a global order that is now fraying, Singapore cannot afford to be a passive bystander in an evolving landscape and must actively shape its own destiny, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“Singapore today is not without agency,” he said, of how the Republic is not the same country it was when it first became independent 60 years ago. “We are better resourced, more capable, more connected than we were in 1965.”

While it is once again in uncharted waters and still has no natural resources, the city state has built deep capabilities, financial reserves, and is stronger and more resilient, said PM Wong.

Singapore will therefore respond to the global transition that is under way with agility and resolve, and will actively shape its own destiny, he said in a speech that detailed the steps his Government will take to navigate an increasingly fragmented world.

Delivering the 14th S. Rajaratnam Lecture, PM Wong said Singapore will do so in three ways: by contributing actively to the stewardship of the global commons; championing deeper regional integration; and strengthening its global network of partnerships.

“We have forged strong friendships around the world. The Singapore brand is well regarded, and we enjoy a deep reservoir of international goodwill,” he told an audience of more than 900 guests, including senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.

More importantly, Singapore is not alone, he added at the lecture, an annual platform organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for distinguished public figures to speak on topics related to diplomacy and international relations.

It will work with like-minded countries that share its commitment to an open, stable and rules-based global system, and together they can lay the groundwork for a more stable global order to emerge in the coming years.

PM Wong said Singapore has consistently played a constructive role in multilateral forums, and it has done so not by grandstanding but by building consensus and finding solutions.

The Singapore Cooperation Programme, through which the Republic shares its developmental know-how, has benefited more than 155,000 officials from 180 countries, he added.

To do more in these challenging times, a new development partnership unit will be set up in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While the focus will still be on South-east Asia, more resources will be set aside for pa...