Members of Parliament Ms Hany Soh and Mr Xie Yao Quan,

Dear State Secretary in the German Ministry of Defence Mr Hitschler,

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Kaack,

Commander German Task Group Rear Admiral Schulz,

Excellencies,

Esteemed guests,

Liebe Landsleute,

It is my honour to welcome all of you on board the Federal German Ship Baden-Wuerttemberg.

This day is dedicated to unity. On this day 34 years ago, following what is called the Peaceful Revolution, East and West Germany reunified, ringing in the end of the division of Europe, and the end of the Cold War.

The decades since then have been marked by prosperity and growth not only in Germany, but in many parts of the world, not least here in Singapore.

But today we see a changing world beset by new crises, distrust and conflict between great powers, and global challenges such as climate change.

For Germany, this means to attach ever more importance to upholding the rules-based international order, to avoid new global divisions, and to do everything in our power to ensure peace and stability, in Europe and beyond.

We are grateful that our longstanding partnership and trust with Singapore allows us to share these views and endeavours, both in our excellent bilateral relations and in multilateral fora.

Earlier this year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong agreed to aim at a Strategic Partnership between Germany and Singapore.

This is a very welcome task to carry out. We are currently working on an ambitious agenda of cooperation in many areas from business to research and security.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Germany has been celebrating the Day of German Unity for 34 years now. But we also had to deal with the challenges of unity, the challenges that come with bringing together people of different backgrounds.

Through the merging of East and West, and through immigration and integration, the Germany we see today is more diverse and multi-faceted than it was 34 years ago. Singaporeans as much as Germans have experienced that unity is not a given.

It is something that we have to work for, be it at home or across borders. It means reaching out and listening. And it can mean sending ships on a trip across the globe to visit your friends.

These two ships departed from Germany almost five months ago. They have been in Southeast Asia for several weeks, engaged in training with partners in this region, most recently with the Singapore Navy two days ago.

So, we are especially grateful to have them here right on time to celebrate our National Day with our Singaporean friends. This is to mark the pivotal importance that we place in Singapore as a trusted partner.

And today I would like to thank all of you for your friendship, your support and the excellent cooperation we enjoy.

I would also like to thank Rear Admiral Schulz and Commander Huth for hosting us here tonight, and the Navy Band of Wilhelmshaven for their music.

Our special thanks go to the crew. To the servicemen and -women who by their efforts tonight have turned this ship from a defender against pirate attacks into a grand festivity venue!

I wish everyone a splendid celebration, in the spirit of unity.

Thank you.