Opening of Singapour en France - le festival

Your Excellency Mr Tan York Chor, Singapore Ambassador to France

Mr Jean de Loisy, President of Palais de Tokyo 

Ms Anne Tallineau, Deputy Director General, Institut français

Excellencies, Distinguished guests

1. Good evening. My Minister, Mr Lawrence Wong, was originally supposed to be with us today to launch Singapour En France. But as some of you may know, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore, passed away on Monday, so this week is a period of national mourning in Singapore. As Singaporeans grieve and reflect on our loss, we continue to honour Mr Lee's vision of establishing Singapore on the international stage, with this unique showcase of Singapore's arts and culture.  Allow me now to read my Minister's speech on his behalf.

2. France and Singapore have a connection that goes back a long way. In fact, it goes all the way back to the founding of modern Singapore. 
   

3. In 1819, a British man by the name of Sir Stamford Raffles landed in Singapore. And with that, modern Singapore was founded. 
   

4. What is less well-known is that Raffles was accompanied by two French naturalists  on that fateful day when he first set foot in Singapore. Raffles himself was an ardent naturalist, so he invited the two men, Pierre-Médard Diard and Alfred Duvaucel, to accompany him on his voyage and collect specimens from the Malay Archipelago. 

5. So at that historic moment when modern Singapore was born, the French were there. This opened the doors to the arrival of the first French settlers in Singapore.
   

6. The French community organised Singapore's first “French Week” in 1950. Locals were treated to photographs of France and Indochina. Amateur thespians from the French community also gave a performance of English Without Tears at the Victoria Theatre in Singapore. So our cultural love affair with France has indeed a long history.

7. We are honoured that now in 2015 which is our Jubilee Year, we have been given the opportunity to  showcase  the best of Singapore culture in France, working together with some of its  most prestigious institutions.

8. Indeed, the Singapour en France festival is a birthday gift to both countries. It is a gift to Singapore for our 50th birthday this year. And it is a gift to both our countries, which celebrate the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations with each other.  

9. That's why we're here today at the Palais de Tokyo, an art centre known for its youthful confidence. This is the same spirit that guides Singapore culture. We are a young nation, but we are bold, modern and willing to experiment. 
   

10. This spirit of discovery shines through the offerings we have lined up for you over the next three months. Tonight, we present Ong Keng Sen's The Incredible Adventures of Border Crossers, which tells the stories of real-life border crossers. Keng Sen is a recipient of the Singapore Cultural Medallion, which is similar to France's Order of Arts and Letters.

11. Later, you can look forward to a classical concert conducted by Darrell Ang, as well as a performance of ancient Chinese music, revitalised for modern audiences by Singapore's Siong Leng Musical Association. You can also look forward to exhibitions of Singapore and Southeast Asian artworks, including the exhibition Archipel Secret, which opens in Palais de Tokyo tonight. There will also be a retrospective of 50 Singapore films, and an award winning architecture exhibition. 

12. All these programmes hold a mirror to the Singapore soul. They remain true to our multicultural roots and national identity, while daring to transcend them, to create new and beautiful forms of artistic expression that push the boundaries of the Western canon.

13. More importantly, the Festival's programmes speak a universal language. Equally at home in France and Singapore, they tell the same story and speak the same language to different audiences. That is the unspoken power of culture – its ability to bring people together, cross boundaries, and boost understanding of each other's heritage. 

14. And when we understand each other better at the people level, our nations can connect better with each other. This is important in an interconnected world. Our linkages are no longer just limited to the goods and services that flow across our borders, but to the ideas and cultural products that enliven our souls.
    

15. This is what this Festival sets out to do. It is an opportunity for France to discover Singapore. And it is a platform to pave the way for long-term partnership and collaboration between our countries.

16. We have achieved a lot together, starting from when the two Frenchmen arrived in Singapore with Stamford Raffles two centuries ago.

17. This festival, and all the other events this year, will strengthen our close bilateral friendship for many more years to come. 

18. With that, I declare Singapour en France open. Thank you very much and I wish you an enjoyable evening ahead.