Lord Mayor, you know the importance of learning, and the Chancellor has emphasised again this evening the role of education in shaping Britain’s place in the world economy. Both the Chancellor and I have been enthusiastic about the theme of your mayoralty: “City of London – City of Learning”. And all of us here tonight would like to pay tribute to your work since you became Lord Mayor, and to thank both the Lady Mayoress and yourself for the splendid hospitality which you have extended to us all this evening. So I invite you all to rise and join me in the traditional toast of good health and prosperity to "The Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress". BIS Review 69/2007  3
With further harmonisation of rules and regulations and increasing capital market linkages, we look forward to the deepening of ASEAN market liquidity. As financial and capital markets in the region become more integrated, there will be seamless flows of investments and capital. ASEAN has also made a strategic decision to strengthen its organisation politically. ASEAN is finalising a Charter that will lay out a bold and visionary future for ASEAN. It will also provide an institutional framework for the grouping and transform it into a more effective and efficient rules-based organisation. The Charter will be signed at the Singapore Summit in November. Singapore – a global city As for developments in Singapore, we have used the last 10 years to remake ourselves, strengthen our competitiveness and expand our economic space. We have also continued with efforts to enhance Singapore’s position as a gateway to Asia by transforming Singapore into a global city. We have enlarged our economic space by aggressively pursuing FTAs. We have concluded 11, including with the US, India, Japan, South Korea and Australia. We are negotiating 11 more FTAs, including one with China. We have progressively restructured and diversified our economy. Manufacturing will continue to play a key role but we are also moving into more technology- and knowledge-intensive manufacturing. Fostering world-class scientific research and strengthening Singapore’s attractiveness as an R&D (Research and Development) hub is a key priority. More of Singapore’s growth will come from innovation and knowledge.