India-Singapore: A people-to-people connect

India and Singapore enjoy historical relations dating back to the Chola period. Singapore which means 'Lion City' in Sanskrit, illustrates India's influence on the city nation. India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Singapore after it achieved independence from Malaysia on August 24, 1965. After independence, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew wanted to establish close ties with India. Due to different strategic interests during the Cold War, a close relationship failed to materialise.Economic reforms in India in the 1990s and India's 'Look East Policy' laid the groundwork for establishing close economic, diplomatic, defence and strategic ties. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao visited Singapore in 1994 and delivered his seminal lecture on India's bold vision to establish close relations with South East Asian countries. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong firmly believed in India's economic potential and ignited the 'India fever'.He strongly urged companies and businesses in Singapore to invest in India. Under his premiership, in 1995, Singapore persuaded ASEAN to welcome India as a dialogue partner and encouraged India's membership in the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit.In the new millennium, Singapore serves as India's gateway to the Asia Pacific. The bilateral relationshi encompasses economic, diplomatic, defence, cultural and legal spheres. Various agreements have been signed between the two countries such as the landmark Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement in 2005, MoU on Foreign Office Consultations in 1994, the Defence Cooperation Agreement in 2003, Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in 2005, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (Protocols signed in 2011), Bilateral Air Services Agreement revised in April 2013, MoU on Cooperation in the field of Vocational Education and Skills Development and India-Singapore Parliamentary Friendship Group to enhance people-to-people interactions among others.People to people ties rooted in centuries of contact are the hallmark of the bilateral relationship. This is reinforced by strong rapport between the leaders of the two countries and numerous visits from the heads of state, premiers, ministers, senior government officials and business leaders from the two countries. President Tony Tan Keng Yam made an official visit to India in February 2015 to mark 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the bilateral relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership.Singapore appreciated Prime Minister Modi's visit on March 29 2015 to attend the state funeral of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and observance of a day of mourning with the Indian flag flying half-mast throughout India.India and Singapore are pluralistic societies and share similar concerns about the challenges posed by terrorism and fundamentalism. It is in their mutual interest to evolve a broad framework of defence and security cooperation. Singapore will continue to play an important role in India's 'Act East Policy' in economic, political and strategic terms. Singapore's significance will increase in the future as India continues to increase its presence in the Asia Pacific.Dr Raj Verma is Assistant Professor in International Relations and Foreign Policy at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Jilin University, and Fudan Senior Fellow, Centre for BRICS Studies, Fudan University.