MFA Press Statement: Official Visit By Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma

Caption: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma this morning.

Caption: Mr Sharma was also hosted to lunch by Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo the same afternoon.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, who is on an official visit to Singapore, called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana this morning. Mr Sharma, who took office on 1 April 2008, briefed Mr Lee on his plans and priorities for the Commonwealth. Mr Sharma and Mr Lee also exchanged views on the Commonwealth's future development and how Commonwealth countries could learn from one another.

Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo also hosted Mr Sharma to lunch today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed also attended the lunch. Over lunch, Minister Yeo and Mr Sharma had a wide-ranging discussion on issues of mutual interest, including the Commonwealth's future activities, climate change and food security. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the Singapore-Commonwealth Third Country Training Programme.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
7 AUGUST 2008