Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong calls on the people to embrace bigger dreams and boldly venture into new fields, because that is the only way to rise higher.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, on the evening of the 17th, Lawrence Wong delivered his first National Day Rally speech as the head of the new government, focusing on how Singapore can prepare for the long-term future and continue progressing amid a more divided global environment. The National Day Rally is an annual address delivered by the Singapore Prime Minister on the first or second Sunday after August 9 National Day, a tradition since 1966.
Wong said that in the past, many foreigners were unfamiliar with Singapore; but nowadays, when Singapore is mentioned, people often recognize it because it has become a highly regarded international brand. People are amazed that this “little red dot” has made such tremendous progress in just a few decades.
Regarding Singapore’s next stage of development, he said some people think Singapore has already succeeded, or even reached its peak. They ask whether Singapore can maintain its achievements, believing there might not be much room for further development.
“That is a misconception. Yes, we have come a long way, and we are now at a higher level. However, we cannot remain stagnant. Because in today’s world, standing still means falling behind. We must either keep moving forward—rising higher—or we will decline.”
He called on Singaporeans to embrace bigger dreams, boldly explore new frontiers, be prepared to try new things, and not be afraid of stumbling or failing, because that is the only way to reach greater heights.
“Our land may be small, but if we are united, we can achieve great things! Greatness is not only reflected in large-scale projects, but also in the ambitions and hopes of every Singaporean.”