Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to Spain, Italy and the Vatican City, 15 to 19 December 2019

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan visited Italy and the Vatican City from 17 to 19 December 2019.

In Rome, Minister Balakrishnan met Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on 19 December. They reaffirmed the warm bilateral relations, support for multilateralism and exchanged views on regional and international issues. They also discussed potential for more collaboration in start-ups and fintech, as well as how Italian and Singapore businesses could leverage on the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement which entered into force in November 2019. In addition, Minister Balakrishnan delivered a speech to Italian officials, academics and students at the Italy-ASEAN Association (transcript enclosed).

In the Vatican City, Minister Balakrishnan met Pope Francis at the General Papal Audience and reiterated then-President Tony Tan’s invitation for the Pope to visit Singapore in the near future. He also had meetings with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher.

Minister Balakrishnan also met with the overseas Singaporean community in Italy and the Vatican City at a reception on 18 December.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

19 DECEMBER 2019

Download speech transcript here [PDF, 295 KB].  

[Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Gathering for Singaporeans based in Italy and the Holy See

[Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Minister Balakrishnan’s meeting with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio

[Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Minister Balakrishnan delivering a speech to Italian officials, academics and students at the Italy-ASEAN Association