今天，正在度假的李顯龍總理向全國人民發來了新年賀詞。附上中英文版本。
中文版本：
回顧2017年
去年，我國經濟取得3.5%增長，比最初的預測高出一倍。各階層人士的收入都有所增加，其中中低收入者的增幅尤爲明顯。新加坡在全球經濟上揚的趨勢中受惠，更爲重要的是，我們的生産力提高了。
新加坡人正積極提升自己，不斷掌握新技能，企業也在加強創新能力，引用新科技。這正是我們保持競爭力，爲未來做好准備的最佳方式。
新加坡正積極加強防禦能，以及鞏固社會凝聚力。全國保家安民計劃（SGSecure）提高了新加坡人對恐怖襲擊的危機意識。我們的保安部隊晝夜保持警惕，嚴防任何可能的襲擊事件。社區和各宗教領袖也攜手合作，加強社會凝聚力，並拒絕極端和排他主義思想。
我們爲長期強化種族和諧而采取的一項重大決定是修改憲法，爲民選總統引進保留選舉機制。哈莉瑪總統作爲我國近50年來的首位馬來族總統，是體現國家團結、堅持多元種族主義的鮮明象征。
在外交上，我們與大國和小國都維持友好關系。
我9月訪問了中國，10月出訪美國。我與中國、美國領導人的會晤皆取得成果，也再次確立了我們同這兩個大國的牢固關系。
新加坡同兩個鄰國馬來西亞和印度尼西亞的關系也是積極的。我們正在擬定新計劃，以深化雙邊合作和造福我們的人民。
展望2018年
2018年，我們的外部環境依然不確定。朝鮮半島緊張局勢不斷升溫，令人擔憂。極端主義恐怖威脅仍是一個現實的危險。美國仍未針對亞洲、中東和其他地區的政策做出完整論述。馬來西亞將于今年舉行大選，印尼則是明年，我們希望在鄰國籌備大選之際，繼續與它們保持穩定關系。盡管面對這些不確定因素，我們仍須繼續加強我們在國內外的地位。
新加坡于2018年擔任亞細安輪值主席國。50年前，包括新加坡在內的五個國家創立亞細安，一同促進東南亞國家的合作與穩定。如今，亞細安如今擴大至10個成員國，也成爲我國外交政策的一大支柱。新加坡透過亞細安得以在國際上發出更響亮的聲音。作爲接任主席國，新加坡希望以“堅韌”與“創新”爲主題，帶領亞細安更上一層樓。
在國內，我們也有滿滿的工作。我們將繼續推進經濟重組計劃。未來經濟委員會正同工會和企業緊密合作，落實産業轉型藍圖；通過技能創前程計劃鼓勵我們的工人終身學習；以及幫助受影響員工適應新工作，在事業新篇章中獲得提升。
我們正在興建更多學前教育中心，爲孩子的人生提供更紮實的起步。爲應對人口老齡化，我們正在增加醫療設施和檢討醫療政策。我們也會履行永續新加坡發展藍圖（Sustainable Singapore Blueprint）和在巴黎氣候協定（Paris Agreement）下作出的環保承諾，以打造一個幹淨綠化的居住環境。
在基礎設施方面，我們正提升地鐵服務可靠性和擴大地鐵網絡。我們也會展開多個大型基礎設施工程，這包括興建樟宜機場第五搭客大廈、大士港口和銜接吉隆坡的高速鐵路，以此提升新加坡的交通樞紐地位。
這些都是我們爲未來作出的必要投資。它們所需的時間與資源都超越本屆政府任期。我們必須未雨綢缪。每一代人爲了將來而辛勤工作，爲下一代積攢資源，通過鞏固前人的基礎，把更好的傳給下一代，我們就是以這種方式建立了今天的新加坡。就是這個信念推動了新加坡的建國一代，我們這一代也必須把這一信念化爲行動。
開埠200周年
新加坡獨立50周年（SG50）慶祝活動向建國一代致敬，但新加坡故事早在1965年以前就已經開始。在過去幾個月裏，我出席了一些特別的周年紀念慶祝活動：新加坡馬拉雅裏協會（Singapore Malayalee Association）、卡立回教堂和南洋女子中學校（南小是我的母校）都慶祝創辦100周年，同濟醫院則是慶祝建院150周年。這些機構都擁有比獨立後的新加坡更悠久的曆史，每個機構都爲新加坡故事作出了貢獻。我們有必要真正了解我們的曆史有多久遠，有多複雜。
事實上，新加坡的曆史可以追溯到至少700年前。14世紀，新加坡島已是國際海事網絡的一個商業中心，只是在後來數百年裏逐漸沒落。史丹福·萊佛士爵士于1819年登陸新加坡是一個關鍵轉捩點。他帶領新加坡走上了另一條道路，讓新加坡得以成就今日光景。
若萊佛士沒有登陸，新加坡也許不會在東南亞占據獨特的位置，有別于周遭群島的衆多島嶼或馬來半島的州。因爲萊佛士，新加坡成爲一個英國殖民地、自由港口和現代化都市。我們的發展不是直線向上的。我們經曆了不少混亂與破壞，包括戰爭與和平、經濟衰退與繁榮、奮鬥與成功。不過，最終我們還是熬過來了，並成爲一個獨立的國家。
我們的先輩離鄉背井，從中國、印度和區域內外的國家漂洋過海來到新加坡，謀求更美好的生活。他們到來時只是旅居者，沒有落地生根的念頭。但這情況慢慢地發生了變化。他們把家人接到這裏居住，或在這裏組織家庭。他們爲各自的社區興建醫院、學校、回教堂、寺廟和教堂。他們帶來了各自的文化與傳統，相互影響，交織成豐富而多元的社會體系。
這些共同的經曆漸漸衍生出新加坡人的身份認同、一份紮根于新加坡的共同信念。在先輩爲自己和家人的未來打拼時，他們也把這個商業中心打造成家園，最終變成了一個國家。沒有這段曆史，就沒有從第三世界躍升成爲第一世界國家的SG50曆程可言。
2019年是萊佛士登陸新加坡的200周年。我們應適當地紀念新加坡開埠200周年，就如同我們在1969年紀念開埠150周年一樣。這是新加坡的一個重要裏程碑，也是讓我們反思國家如何形成、一路上如何走過來，以及如何繼續向前進的時刻。
我們在2018年還有許多事要做。財政預算案結束後，國會將進入短暫的中期休會。國會于5月複會時，哈莉瑪總統將首次發表政府施政方針演說。施政方針將列出政府在余下任期裏要推展的工作。下來的工作將有更多第四代領導人的印迹，他們將肩負更重大的責任，提出他們對新加坡的構想。
整體而言，2017年是良好的一年。我期待2018年的到來。我們已爲未來打下牢固的基礎，我們的努力也開始取得越來越多的成果。新加坡的好日子還在後頭。我在此祝大家新年快樂！
英文版本：
We began 2017 with some uncertainty, both at home and abroad. The economic mood was muted. We worried about security and terrorism. A new US administration was just taking office, with a radical approach to international trade and foreign policy.
But Singaporeans pressed on, undaunted by these challenges. We dealt with the urgent concerns, but we looked beyond immediate problems and did not settle for quick fixes. We made steady progress on our long-term goals, and are finishing the year stronger than we started. We are ushering in 2018 with confidence and strength.
2017 in Review
Last year our economy grew by 3.5%, more than double our initial forecast. Incomes have gone up across the board, especially for low and middle earners. We have benefitted from the global economic upswing. But more fundamentally, our productivity has grown. Singaporeans are upgrading and learning new skills, while businesses are innovating and adopting new technology. That is how we will stay competitive and ready for the future.
As a society, we are striving to become more resilient and cohesive. The SGSecure movement has made Singaporeans more aware of the terrorist threat. Our security forces are vigilant day and night, on guard against possible attacks. Community and religious leaders of all faiths are working together to strengthen our social cohesion and reject extremist and exclusivist ideologies.
One significant step to strengthen our racial harmony, now and well into the future, was amending the Constitution to put in place reserved Presidential Elections. President Halimah Yacob, our first Malay President in almost 50 years, is a visible symbol of our national unity and our commitment to multiracialism.
Externally, we have maintained good relations with countries big and small. I visited China in September, and the US in October. My meetings with President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump were fruitful, and reaffirmed our strong ties with both powers.
Relations with our immediate neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, are also positive. We are working on new initiatives that will deepen bilateral cooperation and benefit our peoples.
Agenda for 2018
Our external environment will remain uncertain in 2018. The Korean Peninsula is a source of growing tension and anxiety. Extremist terrorism remains a present danger. The US’ approach towards Asia, the Middle East and the rest of the world is yet to be fully articulated. We hope to keep relations with our immediate neighbours steady as they gear up for elections – Malaysia this year, and Indonesia the next. Amidst these uncertainties, we must keep on strengthening our position at home and abroad.
Singapore will be the ASEAN Chair in 2018. 50 years ago, Singapore was one of the five founding members which came together to promote cooperation and stability in Southeast Asia. ASEAN has since grown to ten members, and become a key pillar of our foreign policy. Through ASEAN, Singapore has a bigger voice on the international stage. As the next Chair, Singapore hopes to take the group forward with our Chairmanship themes of “resilience” and “innovation”.
We also have a full domestic agenda. We are pressing on with economic restructuring plans. The Future Economy Council is working closely with unions and businesses to implement Industry Transformation Maps, inculcate lifelong learning in our workforce through SkillsFuture, and help affected workers to adapt and grow in new jobs and careers. We are building more preschools to give children a strong start in life.
To prepare for an aging population, we are expanding healthcare facilities and reviewing healthcare policies. We will work to meet our environmental commitments under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint and the Paris Agreement, so that we can all live in a clean and green Singapore. For infrastructure, we are improving rail reliability and growing our MRT network. We will also be undertaking major infrastructure projects including Changi Terminal 5, the Tuas Megaport, and the High Speed Rail link to Kuala Lumpur, to enhance our status as a transport hub.
All these are essential investments in our future. They require time and resources, and will stretch way beyond this term of government. We have to plan well ahead for them. This is how we have built today’s Singapore – each generation working and saving for the future, building on what it inherited and passing on something better to the next generation. This was the creed that drove the Pioneer Generation of Singaporeans, and it must animate our generation too.
Bicentennial
SG50 paid tribute to the Pioneer Generation. But the Singapore Story began way before 1965. Just in the past few months, I have attended several special anniversary celebrations: the 100th anniversaries of the Singapore Malayalee Association, Masjid Khalid, and Nanyang Girls’ High School (my alma mater), as well as the 150th anniversary of Thong Chai Medical Institution. All these organisations are older than independent Singapore. Each has contributed to the Singapore Story. We must understand truly how far back our history reaches, and how complex it is.
Indeed, Singapore’s history stretches back at least 700 years. Our island was already a maritime emporium in the 14th century, though it declined in later centuries. Sir Stamford Raffles’ landing in 1819 was a key turning point. Raffles set Singapore on a different trajectory, which brought us to where we are today.
Had Raffles not landed, Singapore might not have become a unique spot in Southeast Asia, quite different from the islands in the archipelago around us, or the states in the Malayan Peninsula. But because of Raffles, Singapore became a British colony, a free port, and a modern city. Our progress was not a straight line upwards. We experienced many dislocations and disruptions, including war and peace, economic depression and prosperity, struggle as well as success. But ultimately we came through, and became an independent nation.
Our forefathers came from China, India, the region and beyond, leaving their families behind, to seek better lives here. They came as sojourners, with no intention to stay. But slowly this changed. They brought their families over, or formed families here. They built hospitals, schools, mosques, temples and churches for their communities. They brought their own cultures and traditions, interacted with one another, and wove these strands together into a rich and diverse tapestry.
Over time, out of their shared experience grew a Singaporean identity, a shared sense of being rooted in Singapore. As our forefathers worked to build a future for themselves and their families, they were also turning an emporium into a home, and eventually a country. Without this history, we could not have made the SG50 journey from third world to first.
2019 will be the 200th anniversary of Raffles’ landing. We should commemorate this bicentennial appropriately, just as we marked the 150th anniversary in 1969. It is an important milestone for Singapore; an occasion for us to reflect on how our nation came into being, how we have come this far since, and how we can go forward together.
Meanwhile in 2018 we have much to do. After the Budget sitting, Parliament will prorogue for a short mid-term break. When the new Parliamentary session opens in May, President Halimah Yacob will deliver her inaugural President’s Address. In it, the Government will lay out its agenda for the rest of the term. This will bear the imprint of the fourth-generation leadership, who are taking on greater responsibilities, and putting forth their ideas for Singapore.
Overall, 2017 has been a good year. I am looking forward to 2018. We have built a strong foundation for the future. Increasingly, our efforts will show results. Singapore’s best days are ahead of us. I wish one and all a Very Happy New Year!