NEW DELHI: Singapore will soon have an Indian Heritage Centre that will testify the role Indians have played and continue to play in that country.
This was stated by Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam here today as he pressed for enhancing the cultural ties between the two countries.
"A new Indian Heritage Centre, which will open soon in Singapore also testifies the key role that the Indian community has played and continues to play in Singapore story," Yam said while inaugurating the Perankan World exhibition at National Museum here.
He said a Indian culture festival would be hosted in Singapore later this year.
Holding that India and Singapore have historical cultural relationship, the Singapore President stressed on sharing of experiences for better understanding between the two countries.
"The more experiences we share the better our two countries would be able to understand each other," he noted.
Yam also recalled the cooperation between the cultural institutions in India and Singapore.
"Our cultural institutions have a long history of close cooperation. Singapore's National Heritage Board has worked with Museums in India for more than 20 years," he added.
The exhibition, "The Peranakan World -- Cross-cultural Art of Singapore and the Straits of Malacca" began today and will run till March 25 at the National Museum.
The Peranakan Chinese are descendants of southern Chinese traders who settled in Southeast Asia and married local women.
Their culture is rooted in Chinese traditions, but with strong influences from Southeast Asia and Europe.