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S’pore, France to step up collaboration on cyber-security, digital technologies

PARIS — Amid concerns about increasingly sophisticated online threats, Singapore and France have pledged to beef up cooperation on cyber-security and exchange ideas on regulatory approaches to safeguarding user data in the digital sphere.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as he arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday, July 13.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as he arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday, July 13.

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PARIS — Amid concerns about increasingly sophisticated online threats, Singapore and France have pledged to beef up cooperation on cyber-security and exchange ideas on regulatory approaches to safeguarding user data in the digital sphere.

Both countries also agreed to collaborate on areas like artificial intelligence (AI), and "work to defend the international openness of cyber space", according to a new France-Singapore digital roadmap that was issued as visiting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was hosted to dinner by French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday (July 14). 

This is the first time both leaders have met officially. "They had a good and wide-ranging discussion covering topics such as nurturing innovation, responding to technological disruption, developing smart cities, and the importance of quality education and social harmony," said Ms Chang Li Lin, Mr Lee's press secretary.

During the dinner at the Elysee Palace late on Friday night, Mr Macron also accepted Mr Lee’s invitation to visit Singapore and deliver the keynote speech at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, according to Ms Chang. 

A specific date for Mr Macron's appearance at the yearly regional security forum has not been confirmed.

Mr Lee is on a three-day visit to France, and will attend the French National Day parade as a guest of honour on Saturday. The parade will feature a combined flypast between the Singapore and French air forces and a four-man flag party from the Republic.

As part of the visit, both countries also concluded eight agreements in areas like innovation and energy, in addition to the adoption of the France-Singapore roadmap to deepen co-operation in digital innovation, Internet governance and cyber-security.

CYBER-SECURITY THREATS

Under the digital roadmap, the two countries' cybersecurity agencies agreed to step up existing co-operation covered by a memorandum of understanding signed in May 2015. The document gave no details on specific initiatives, but pointed to concerns in areas like banking and finance, telecommunications, aviation, and maritime.

"Given the transboundary nature of cyber-attacks, it is important for all countries to work closely together to address cyber-security threats which are increasingly sophisticated and cross-cutting in nature," the document added.

Both countries also registered their support for closer dialogue on this issue between the European Union (EU) and the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean), so that best practices on the “norms of responsible cyber activity, confidence-building measures between states and technical standards” can be exchanged. 

In August, Singapore is set to take over as coordinator of Asean’s relations with the EU. The Republic also chairs Asean this year.

The two countries are looking to beef up their partnerships and the flow of cross-border data between governments and private firms to support innovation, while giving personal data the “necessary protection”.

Ratcheting up AI capabilities has also been singled out as a priority, with Singapore and France agreeing to exchange best practices regularly on governance and the adaptation of the law, so as to ensure AI is “used in the service of humanity and the well-being of societies”. 

GLOBAL CONCERNS

At dinner on Friday night, Mr Lee and Mr Macron also discussed regional and global developments, noting that the global order based on openness, globalisation and free trade has “come under great pressure”, Ms Chang said.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to a “free and open international trading system, multilateralism, globalisation, the rule of law and sustainable development”, she added. 

Their wide-ranging discussion also spanned topics like responding to technological disruption and the importance of quality education and social harmony.

Earlier in the day, Mr Lee was given an official welcome at the Hotel National des Invalides in the heart of Paris. Soldiers with the French republican guard accorded Mr Lee the honours of a military welcome, as the Singapore and French national anthems filled the air.

Mr Lee later met his French counterpart Edouard Philippe, during which they took stock of the robust and multifaceted bilateral partnership in security, trade, culture, research and education, said Ms Chang.

Mr Lee’s visit coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s advanced jet training in Cazaux Air Base in southwest France, and both leaders welcomed its commemoration and the two countries’ deepening co-operation in innovation.

Mr Lee also had lunch with French industry leaders where they spoke about bilateral economic co-operation, and business opportunities in Singapore and France, Ms Chang said.

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