Singapore-Finland Joint Statement on Foreign Policy and Cooperation in the Age of AI
Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, and Ms. Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, met in Singapore to reaffirm the close partnership between their countries and to outline a shared approach to foreign policy and cooperation in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).
Singapore and Finland are highly digitalised, globally connected, and innovation-driven economies. We share an interest in ensuring that AI is developed and used in a safe and responsible manner, while supporting openness, innovation and international cooperation.
1. Strengthening international cooperation on AI governance
Singapore and Finland reaffirm our cooperation to shape international AI governance grounded in evidence-based policy-making and inclusive dialogue, and a rules-based international order. Both countries recognise the growing importance of AI for foreign and security policy and support stronger international cooperation to maximise its benefits and promote the responsible and secure development and use of AI. This builds on a longstanding foundation of cooperation, including through Group of Friends on Digital Technologies, established by Finland, Mexico and Singapore at the UN in 2019. Through various multilateral initiatives including this Group of Friends, Finland and Singapore intend to strengthen practical cooperation on emerging technologies.
2. Promoting trustworthy AI ecosystems
Singapore and Finland commit to advance AI safety through international cooperation, transparency and common standards, as reflected in our joint endorsement of A Call for Control of Frontier AI Models in September 2026. The two countries bring complementary strengths: Singapore in AI governance and its broader innovation ecosystem, including the Singapore Consensus on Global AI Safety Research Priorities, and Finland in secure digital infrastructure and advanced technology industries. Combining these strengths, the two countries intend to deepen institutional partnerships, expand commercial cooperation and advance multilateral initiatives that promote trustworthy, secure and human-centric AI.
3. Deepening bilateral cooperation in AI and emerging technologies
Singapore and Finland agree to deepen our cooperation in ensuring that the benefits of AI and emerging technologies are broadly accessible, and in supporting open, diverse, and resilient technology ecosystems. Building on existing cooperation, including the 2022 quantum technology memorandum of understanding (MoU) involving Singapore's National Quantum Office, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, IQM and CSC IT Center for Science, and the 2026 bilateral health-sector MoU between Singapore and Finland covering medical research, health technology and AI, the two countries intend to further deepen bilateral collaboration in AI, quantum technologies and digital infrastructure by combining our respective strengths in research, innovation and technology. Both countries also support open and innovative research ecosystems, including work on open AI models. Singapore and Finland will also explore opportunities to work together in relevant international and multilateral forums to advance cooperation in emerging technologies, including quantum technologies.
This bilateral cooperation is complemented by the EU-Singapore Digital Partnership, which identifies responsible and human-centric AI as a shared priority and provides an established framework for broader collaboration in digital technologies and innovation.