COVID-19: ASEAN and Australia, New Zealand should work to help ease travel restrictions, says PM Lee
15 November, 2020
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday (Nov 14) called on Australia and New Zealand to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to ease border restrictions, saying this will facilitate the resumption of monetary activity as the COVID-19 pandemic stabilizes.
Mr Lee was speaking at separate virtual summits involving ASEAN and both countries.
"The reopening of our borders in a safe and calibrated manner will facilitate the resumption of economical activity, and is an essential confidence marker for our peoples and businesses," said Mr Lee at the second ASEAN-Australia Biennial Summit.
He noted that Singapore has lifted border restrictions to allow visitors from Australia, adding that he hopes Australia will also ease its border restrictions "in good time".
In an identical message through the ASEAN-New Zealand Leaders Summit, Mr Lee said the two sides should progressively and safely lift current travel restrictions.
"This is a crucial enabler of our monetary recovery, and can signal to the rest of the world that ASEAN and its own partners are open for business," he said.
Singapore lifted border restrictions to visitors from New Zealand since it has done "a commendable job" controlling the spread of COVID-19.
"(Singapore) Iooks forward to New Zealand similarly lifting its restrictions on cross border travel when it is prepared to do so," said Mr Lee.
Singapore has unilaterally opened its borders to travellers from Vietnam, Brunei, New Zealand and Australia.
Unlike the fast or green lane arrangements, this consists of all types of short-term travel, including for leisure.
For Australia and New Zealand, however, their governments have not lifted border restrictions, advising their residents never to travel abroad. Those who have to travel must apply for an exemption.
Through the summits, Mr Lee also highlighted that Singapore, Australia and New Zealand share the same views on "vaccine multilateralism" and so are Friends of the COVAX Facility.
"We should complement that with cooperation in vaccine research and development, and by building up our vaccine manufacturing capacities to aid regional demand," he said at the summit involving New Zealand.
On trade and economical recovery, Mr Lee welcomed the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which is scheduled to occur on Sunday.
Australia and New Zealand are area of the RCEP agreement, together with the 10-member ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea.
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