Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak spoke of the close ties between the two countries on 27 August 2014 as they jointly officiated at the opening of the Agrobazaar Malaysia outlet in Singapore.
The outlet, located in Sultan Gate off Beach Road, is an agricultural-based business that promotes Malaysian fruit and products to the overseas
market.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Datuk Seri Najib said the Agrobazaar was "a testament to the strong and enduring relationship" between the two countries.
"I can think of few better places than Singapore, which attracts so many international visitors, and which we share a common culinary heritage with. We may occasionally differ on terminology, but Singapore and Malaysians taste with one tongue," he said at the opening ceremony, which was attended by about 400 guests including Cabinet ministers of both countries.
"This explains why a fifth of our agro-food products - worth more than a billion US dollars - are exported to Singapore annually. And with the kind of cooperation we see here at the Agrobazaar, I am sure those numbers will continue to rise."
The 5,100 sq ft outlet serves to promote fresh Malaysian produce and is also a jumping-off point for Malaysian producers to access new international markets, Mr Najib added.
Prime Minister Najib Razak also said the the Agrobazaar is a testament to the strong and enduring relationship between Singapore and Malaysia. He explained that the Agrobazaar is a launch pad for Malaysian producers to access new international markets. "Yes, we have historic cities; yes, we have idyllic beaches and of course, we have the twin towers, but our rambutan and mangosteen, and above all - durian, really pull in the crowds," he said.
Prime Minister Lee, in his remarks, also referred to the close ties with Malaysia, and said Singapore looked forward to deepening interactions. Mr Lee said the Agrobazaar is one example of what cooperation between Singapore and Malaysia can deliver, as both countries move their ties forward. He also said the Agrobazaar is "something more than food" and reflects the close economic ties between the two countries, as well as their shared culture and long friendship.
Such close interactions can, however, result in issues arising from time to time, he said. But he likened the friendship between the two countries to a "flowering fruit tree" that will have to be "continually nurtured and tended to".
"Sometimes, we enjoy the low hanging fruit, or even wait for the durians to fall. But sometimes we have to work harder to climb the tree and pluck the coconuts from the top," he said.
"But I believe if we keep the lines of communication open, not just between the leaders, but also between ministers and senior officials and their counterparts, then we can manage anything which comes along, and this is the way to maintain and enhance mutual understanding, trust and respect, and continue to make progress on existing as well as new areas of cooperation," Mr Lee said.
"This is the way to maintain and enhance mutual understanding, trust and respect, and continue to make progress on existing and new areas of cooperation."
He said that he anticipated further deepening ties in the near future, especially with the development of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Johor Bahru and Singapore, and the High Speed Rail between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
"This will improve the flow of goods and people across borders and draw us closer together. It will create opportunities for our peoples to mingle and to understand each other's cultures and heritages better," he said.
Mr Najib presented Prime Minister Lee with a basket of musang king durians and an oil painting of them enjoying the fruit during Mr Lee's recent visit to Malaysia.
The Agrobazaar Malaysia outlet here will feature and promote fresh fruit and agro-based produce from Malaysia. It is an initiative of its Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry and its Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA).
Several Singapore ministers, the Malaysian Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the Chief Minister of Johor were also present.
Source: Straits Times, Channel News Asia and Prime Minister’s Office.