Stating that political relations between India and Singapore are among the warmest and closest, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 31, 2018 said that the two sides are building a relationship of our age. Addressing a business and community event, Mr Modi described the relationship between India and Singapore as “our heritage.” Stating that this south-east Asian city state never fails to inspire, he said that it has shown that size can be no barrier to the scale of achievements.

“But, Singapore’s success also lies in the harmony of its multi-cultural society, in the celebration of its diversity, which under-lies a distinct and unique Singaporean identity,” he said. Praising the role of the 800,000 people of Indian origin here, he said: “Here in Singapore, you represent the diversity of India.”

Mr Modi also referred to the fact that Tamil is an official language in Singapore and said that children here can learn five different Indian languages in schools. “On the foundations of this extraordinary heritage, the wealth of our human links and the strength of our shared values, India and Singapore are building a partnership of our age,” he said. “It is a relationship that truly meets the test of strategic partnership.”