Guest of honour at the event was Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Not merely a celebration of Singapore's National day, Vanu said the reception was a celebration of the shared heritage and intertwined destinies of the neighbours.
"As President Halimah Yacob said during her state visit in March, what Singapore and Malaysia can achieve together is only limited by our imagination and political will. My wish for this National Day is for Singaporeans and Malaysians to continue to find opportunities to interact, collaborate and learn from one another, as we work together — bekerja bersama-sama — towards our dreams of a better future.
Themed "Bersama (Together)", the reception saw some 1,200 guests, including Singaporeans, Malaysian government officials, the diplomatic corps and the private and non-governmental sectors.
In line with the theme, the reception focused on partnering with charities and social enterprises such as the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore; Women of Will, a social enterprise in Malaysia that empowers women from low-income families to establish their food businesses; and Art
is, an organisation in Singapore that empowers persons with disabilities through the arts.