President of the French Senate, Mr Christian Poncelet, who is visiting Singapore, called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at 11.30 am at the Istana today.
Mr Lee and Mr Poncelet noted the excellent relations between the two countries, and the close cooperation across a wide range of areas, including education, research and development, and defence. They agreed that both sides should explore ways to take the relationship further.
Both leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest, such as developments in the Middle East. Mr Lee called on Europe to strengthen its engagement of Asia, and thanked France for its efforts towards this end. In response, Mr Poncelet highlighted France's interest in the region and agreed on the need for Europe to stay engaged.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
22 MARCH 2007