重述这段历史不仅加深了我们对过去的集体认识，还拉近了我们彼此之间的距离，也让我们对共同未来更具信心。我们祖先的原籍国都各自拥有古老的文明。新加坡的历史虽不如这些古文明来得悠久，不过，开埠 200 周年纪念使我们坚信，新加坡将拥有光明的未来。
新加坡开埠200周年纪念也让我们从另一个角度看待全球与本地时事。过去 200年来，我们经历不少起伏，包括暴乱、战争、经济萧条和金融危机。如今，世界前景再次充满不确定性。
同时，全球许多社会，如近期智利和法国，都出现紧张局势。尽管这些地区的经济都取得增长，当地人民仍然感到焦虑、沮丧和懊恼。他们为住房和工作等基本生活所需感到担忧，更因为经济成果没有公平分享、收入差距不断扩大，感到愤怒。不少人对经济和政治体制失去信心，并对未来感到悲观，进而导致本土主义和沙文主义高涨，宗派冲突加剧，全球化退潮似乎处处可见。
新加坡人担心国际动态，也关注本地课题。不过，我们不能只把视线锁定国内，而是应该保持开放,与世界连接。国际化让新加坡受益良多，我们如果将目光限制于国内范围，是无法生存的。所幸我们过去几十年来致力改善人民的生活，因此我们的情况比多数国家来得好。不仅如此，我们年复一年仍然稳步前进。
我们继续改良教育体系，降低学前教育费用，并提升其素质，让每个孩子都有良好的人生起跑点。我们调整小六会考计分制，减轻学生的压力，还开辟更多途径，让学生在中学毕业后继续深造，帮助每名学生充分发挥潜力。年轻国人踏入职场时，“技能创前程”计划也会支持他们终身学习。
在住房方面，我们为首次购屋者提供更多援助，帮助更多年轻家庭拥有自己的安乐窝。比达达利新镇的首批居民已陆续迁入新居，登加新镇的预购组屋单位也已开放供购屋者选购。同时，建屋发展局的翻新工程节奏不断、有序进行。我们不断为广大组屋区注入新活力，确保每个市镇更宜居，并拥有活跃的社区和现代化的设施。
至于医疗保健，我们通过建国一代配套和立国一代配套减轻年长国人的医药负担，并向他们致敬。我们也正在兴建新的医疗保健设施，大幅扩充规模。盛港综合医院和社区医院已经投入运作，欧南社区医院也已开始 接收病患。新加坡中央医院、陈笃生医院和新加坡国立大学医学组织的院区也都在进行重建、扩建。
在交通方面，我们付出许多努力，大大改善了地铁服务。目前，我国地铁网络整体可靠度已居世界前列，列车平均每行驶超过100万公里才发生延误。与此同时，我们将继续兴建更多的地铁线和延长线。汤申-东海岸线第一阶段将在下个月通车。我们不久前决定跨岛线将穿过中央集水地带自然保护区地底深处。还有，我们引以为豪的星耀樟宜也在今年开幕了。
与此同时，我们也关注对我们构成直接影响的风险和压力。全球经济放缓已经影响了我国。我国经济今年虽然没有陷入衰退，继续取得增长，但增长步伐却没有我们希望的那么强劲。我们将通过来临的财政预算案支持企业提高生产力和培养新能力，并协助工友，尤其是中途转换跑道的专业人员、经理、执行员与技师 (PMET)，接受再培训、掌握新技能、找到新的工作，保持受雇能力。我们还会帮助国人应付生活费，并加强社会安全网，为低收入家庭、年长者和弱势群体提供生活保障。
这些都是改善国人生活的实际措施。但我们从历史得到的启示是，我们不仅要处理好民生课题，长远来说，更必须培养我国社会的精神特质。我们的目标是在这个岛国建立公平公正的社会，让国人都能享受到经济繁荣的果实，让人性光辉得以绽放，让每名国人有机会提升自己,追逐梦想。我们要建设的是不分种族、言语或宗教，人人平等的社会。我们将扶持最需要帮助的群体，不让任何人因为无法克服人生的波折而被抛在后头。在这里，每一代人不断地设想未来，让下一代能拥有更多机遇，从而书写更精彩的故事，打造更美好的新加坡。
这些优良的价值观和理念，使我们的先辈决心留在新加坡扎根，而不是回归原籍国。这些价值观赋予我们熬过艰难的日据时期的毅力；赋予我们争取自主和独立的勇气；也赋予我们建设一个新国家的坚定意志。这些价值观将促使我们团结一致，逆流而上。
在这动荡不安的世界，没几个社会能够追求如此崇高的理念，更别说付诸行动。但在新加坡，基于几代人的艰苦奋斗，我们完全有可能立志遵循这些价值观，实现我们的愿景。
当然，没有人能保证我们会取得成功。在新加坡的历史上，从来就没有这种保证。我们必需一如既往，凭胆色和决心向前跨出每一步。但是，只要我们齐心协力，不断努力，我坚信新加坡能够继续在世界舞台上发光发亮。
我们的家园新加坡，塑造我们的人生，也孕育我们的未来。让我们竭尽所能群策群力，让它更加美好。
祝大家新年快乐!
英文献词原文如下：
Hello everyone! 2019 was our Bicentennial. We organised activities and exhibitions throughout the year, both in the city and in the heartlands, to commemorate our history. Three quarter million people of all ages and walks of life visited the Bicentennial Experience, here at Fort Canning, some more than once. The Singapore story resonated deeply with us, because it reminded us vividly how much our island has changed over the centuries, and how far we have come, even within our own lifetimes.
Recounting this history has enhanced our collective consciousness of the past, strengthened our sense of togetherness in the present, and boosted our confidence in a shared future. Unlike the ancient civilisations of our forefathers, Singapore lacks a long, continuous history. But the Bicentennial has strengthened our conviction that Singapore will have a bright future.
The Bicentennial also put into perspective what is currently happening around the world and in Singapore. Over 200 years, we have experienced many ups and downs, including riots and war, depression and economic crises. Today, the outlook is again fraught with uncertainty. Serious frictions have developed between the US and China. Their recent trade deal has partially relieved tensions, but it will not resolve the fundamental differences.
Meanwhile, many societies – including most recently Hong Kong, Chile and France – are under stress. Despite economic growth, their peoples feel anxious, discouraged and upset. They worry about basic needs like housing and jobs. They are angry that the fruits of growth have not been shared equitably, and income gaps are widening. Consequently, large parts of their populations have lost faith in their economic and political systems, and are pessimistic about the future. This is fuelling nativism and chauvinism, and sectarian strife. Everywhere globalisation seems to be in retreat.
Singaporeans too are worried about the state of the world, and we also have our own domestic concerns. But we must resist the temptation to turn inwards. Instead, we must stay open and connected to the world. Globalisation has benefitted Singapore enormously. A Singapore turned inwards cannot survive. We are in a better position than most countries, because for decades we have toiled to improve our people’s lives. And we continue to make steady progress, year after year.
We are reforming our education system. We are lowering fees of preschools and raising their quality, to give every child a good start in life. We are changing the PSLE scoring system to reduce pressure on our students. We are opening more post- secondary education pathways to bring out the best in every student. When our young people start work, SkillsFuture will support their lifelong learning journey.
In housing, we have enhanced subsidies for first-time buyers, to help more young families own their homes. The first residents of the new Bidadari estate have started to move in, and flats in Tengah new town are now open for booking. HDB upgrading programmes continue apace. We are refreshing our heartlands so every town is spruced up and up-to-date, with active communities and modern amenities.
In healthcare, we are honouring senior Singaporeans through the Merdeka Generation and Pioneer Generation Packages. We are also expanding capacity significantly with new healthcare facilities. The Sengkang General Hospital and Community Hospital are open, and Outram Community Hospital has started admitting patients. Redevelopment of the Outram, Tan Tock Seng and NUHS campuses is ongoing.
In transport, after much hard work, rail services have dramatically improved. The MRT is now one of the most reliable train systems in the world. On average, we have less than 1 breakdown every 1,000,000 kilometres travelled. Meanwhile, we continue to build more rail lines and extensions. Stage 1 of the Thomson-East Coast Line opens next month. We have just settled the alignment of the Cross Island Line, deep under the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. And at Changi Airport, Jewel – that we are all so proud of – opened this year.
