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Welcome Remarks for Second Minister for Education Dr Mohd Maliki Bin Osman at the Kazakhstan-Singapore Forum

Last Updated: 24 May 2024

News Speeches

Your Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan,

Your Excellency Mr Sayasat Nurbek, Minister for Science and Higher Education

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

A very good afternoon to everyone. We are honoured to have His Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan with us this afternoon.

2. With over 30 years of bilateral ties between our two countries, we have found ways to collaborate in various areas. Specifically, in terms of education, Singapore and Kazakhstan's ties are concentrated in the higher education space, with partnership agreements in such areas as student exchanges; capability building; and research collaborations. For example, as you have heard from Professor Tan (NUS President) earlier, the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) has a long relationship with Nazarbayev University (NU), providing consultancy services to NU's Graduate School of Public Policy. The Dean of NU Graduate School of Public Policy is a Singaporean, and I have met him several times when I in my recent visit to Kazakhstan. To date, LKYSPP has conducted courses for over 700 senior Kazakh officials, including members of the Kazakh Cabinet. I have met Kazakh Graduate students from both NU and NUS LKYSPP and have been very very impressed by their curiosity, determination, intellect and certainly, their strong desire to learn.

Further cooperation between Kazakhstan and Singapore in the area of education and research

3. I understand that three MOUs between Singapore and Kazakhstan universities will be inked later today. It was also announced yesterday that MOE Singapore and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan signed an MOU to explore cooperation between the higher educational institutions of both countries to strengthen student and faculty exchanges, encourage student participation in scientific conferences and other forums, and promote the exchange of educational materials.

4. These MOUs signal both countries' commitment to strengthen educational cooperation and pave the way for greater institutional partnerships and people-to-people exchanges between Singapore and Kazakhstan higher educational institutes. This is important to ensure that the subsequent generations of Singaporeans and Kazakhs build on the strong foundation of our relationships at all levels. I look forward to the partnerships that will bear fruit as a result of the seeds carefully sown today.

President Tokayev

5. Today's forum is yet another opportunity for us to explore common ground and build partnerships in the area of research and sustainability. It is organised in conjunction with the State Visit by President Tokayev to Singapore.

6. On that note, allow me to introduce President Tokayev.

7. President Tokayev has served as President of Kazakhstan since 2019. While this is his first State Visit to Singapore, President Tokayev is no stranger to our island nation. He served in Singapore as a diplomat in the then Soviet Embassy in the 1970s1. Some of our younger attendees today might not have been around yet then.

8. During his distinguished public career, President Tokayev has served in different capacities including as Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and as Chair of the Senate of Kazakhstan.

9. At the international level, President Tokayev was Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, and concurrently Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament from 2011 to 2013. He is also fluent in several languages including Chinese, Russian, and French. Indeed, President Tokayev is a man of many talents!

10. Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen, as I now hand over the podium to President Tokayev, I hope today's discussions spark new ideas that will further strengthen partnerships with our Kazakhstan friends. Through the continual exchange of insights and experiences, I am confident our joint efforts in the fields of higher education and research will continue to grow from strength to strength.

11. May I now invite His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the podium to share his remarks. Your Excellency, please.


Footnotes

  1. Tokayev started his career in 1975 in the then USSR MFA and was posted to Singapore as an Officer at the then Soviet Embassy from 1975 to 1979.