Thailand, Singapore upgrade ties at leaders' retreat

Thailand and Singapore agreed on Wednesday to elevate their strategic partnership at their first leaders' retreat in 11 years, pledging closer cooperation as the two countries prepare to take consecutive chairmanships of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong welcomed a joint statement on a forward-looking strategic partnership after talks during the fifth Thailand-Singapore Leaders' Retreat in Bangkok and agreed to work on four further agreements covering the digital economy, transnational crime, food security, and supply chain resilience.

Anutin noted that the two countries will also deepen defense and cybersecurity cooperation and step up joint action against online scam operations,