Singapore, Australia deepen defense science, technology cooperation

Singapore and Australia have renewed cooperation in defence science and technology, Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Thursday.

The renewed Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Defence Science and Technology (S&T MOU) will enhance defence technology cooperation between the Defence Science and Technology Group of Australia and the Defence Technology Community of Singapore, said MINDEF in a statement.

The agreement will include areas such as research, systems engineering and integration. S&T MOU has thus far provided a framework for both countries to carry out collaborative science and technology projects, said MINDEF.

The renewed agreement is in line with the spirit of the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed between Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his counterpart Tony Abbott on June 29.

MINDEF said Singapore's defence technology cooperation with Australia began in the 1990s, and continued to grow with the inauguration of the Australia-Singapore Science and Technology Forum and the signing of the S&T MOU in October 2005.

Singapore's Second Minister for Defence Lui Tuck Yew and Australia's Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert witnessed the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Defence Science and Technology (S&T MOU) on Thursday.

Robert is in Singapore for an official visit from Wednesday to Friday. He met with Lui earlier on Thursday and reaffirmed the close and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and Australia.