For the first time, diplomatic relations between the Russian Empire and Singapore were established in 1890, in anticipation of the visit of the Russian Tsarevich Nikolai. However, the Russian embassy in Singapore did not open then, limiting itself only to the appointment of a consul. Too close cooperation with the port city was not necessary then, since Singapore was part of the British Empire.
How it all began: a relationship story
Perhaps the period of consular relations with the leaders of Singapore can be left out of the brackets, immediately going to the time when the Asian state gained independence from Malaysia.
On August 9, 1965, the city-state became a sovereign subject of international law, leaving behind the period of British colonial rule and an alliance with Malaysia. Of course, the young state needed the maximum support of the international community, for the sake of which it began to establish relations even with such remote states as the USSR.
The first permanent Russian embassy in Singapore opened in 1968, when the two states mutually recognized each other. From that moment on, relations reached a new level, which later turned out to be very high.
The basis of relations in the Soviet period
While the Soviet authorities focused on the political struggle and the promotion of the Soviet way of life, the Singapore government was engaged in the arrangement of a young state, devoid of any natural resources.
During the early years, Singaporean authorities were busy with such pressing issues as water supply, job creation, and housing. Of course, all these issues were resolved exclusively through market mechanisms. The difference in approaches minimized the interaction between the Russian embassy in Singapore and local authorities.
It was the approach of the Singapore government that led to a set of issues on which it was ready to work with the USSR. All of them were exclusively economic in nature.
Resources for Growth
In 1970, the founder of the Singapore nation, Lee Kuan Yew, made an official visit to the Union. The Soviet leadership stated that it had great hopes for this visit, but the expected progress in cooperation did not happen.
In his memoirs, the Singapore Prime Minister points to the inertia and non-progressivity of the Soviet government, not forgetting to mention that it seemed to him that the Soviet leadership did not want independent Singapore at all and was interested only in its high-class shipyards inherited from the British Empire.
In turn, Singapore, not seeing any grounds for deep cooperation, limited itself to the purchase of fish and seafood from the Country of Soviets, which, of course, cannot indicate a high level of relations.
Stagnation and Crisis
After this not too productive visit, the relations at the highest level between the two countries did not receive any development. At this time, the functions of the Russian embassy in Singapore were quite technical and boiled down to maintaining a minimum level of consular interaction. However, this level could not be maintained for a long time. In 1980, Singapore decided to boycott the Olympic Games in Moscow and even tore off a few cultural exchange programs.
In 1986, relations resumed as the Gorbachev government headed for the construction of a new type of economy. Collaboration with Singapore could be very helpful in this. A commission on trade and economic cooperation was formed, and a corresponding post was created at the Russian Embassy in Singapore.
In 1990, a historic event took place - a high-ranking political figure from the USSR first arrived in Singapore on an official visit. The honorable duty fell to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR - Nikolai Ryzhkov.
Embassy of Russia in Singapore: how to get there
The Russian Embassy in the Republic of Singapore is an official, permanent diplomatic mission, which is responsible for the whole range of issues of Russian foreign policy. The Russian Embassy in Singapore, whose address is 51, Nassim Road, Singapore, has a complex structure.
Our mission includes: the protocol department, the foreign policy department, the consular department, the science and education department, the culture department, the military attache apparatus, the trade mission and the APEC Secretariat staff.
Phones of the Russian Embassy in Singapore are listed on the official website. In addition, the Stevens, Orchard and Newton metro stations are located in the immediate vicinity of the embassy quarter.
Embassy of Russia in Singapore
Photos of the Russian diplomatic mission are popular with locals, as the building is an example of the Soviet brutalist style in architecture. The choice of such a decision was determined by the desire of the Soviet leadership to demonstrate the power of the regime. However, another, non-ideological impulse was needed for bilateral relations.
Since the mid-nineties, the level of relations has been very high, and dialogue has been ongoing between presidents, prime ministers and ministers. It is also important that the Russian Embassy in Singapore has a permanent employee responsible for interaction with the APEC countries.
Much attention is paid to interstate relations on the part of the Russian government, since Singapore has numerous modern technologies and experience in implementing managerial decisions in government agencies.
In turn, the Asian republic is interested in the Russian Federation as a stable supplier of energy resources. It is also important that truly enormous opportunities are opening up for Singaporean entrepreneurs in Russia, since the market is in a state of development.
An indicator of a significant level of trust is the fact that Russians can apply for a Singapore visa online, through a special site. To do this, you only need to pay the fee and fill out the questionnaire. And for short-term transit, not exceeding three days, a visa is not required at all.