Official Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to the Palestinian Territories, 20 March 2022

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is in Ramallah.

Minister Balakrishnan called on Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad Al-Malki. He will meet Minister of Health Mai Al-Kaila later today.

Minister Balakrishnan affirmed the warm and friendly relations between Singapore and the PA. On behalf of President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister Balakrishnan conveyed letters of invitation to President Abbas and Prime Minister Shtayyeh respectively to visit Singapore, which the Palestinian leaders welcomed.

Minister Balakrishnan reiterated Singapore’s longstanding and principled support for a negotiated two-state solution consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security, in order to achieve a durable, just and comprehensive solution. Minister Balakrishnan expressed the hope that both the Israeli and Palestinian sides will find ways to engage in direct negotiations on the basis of a two-state solution. He also urged all parties to refrain from any unilateral actions that could increase tensions and undermine the prospects for peace.  

Minister Balakrishnan reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to supporting the PA through capacity-building and encouraged more Palestinian officials to participate in training courses under our S$10 million Enhanced Technical Assistance Package (ETAP) for the Palestinians. To support the PA in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Balakrishnan conveyed a special healthcare assistance package worth about S$750,000. This includes 10,000 Resolute 2.0 COVID-19 PCR test kits developed by Singapore-based Alliance BioMed and 30,000 Air+ reusable masks donated by Temasek Foundation, customised healthcare courses and postgraduate scholarships aimed at training Palestinian healthcare policymakers and professionals.

To facilitate closer coordination with the PA to implement the ETAP, Minister Balakrishnan conveyed Singapore’s intention to establish a representative office in Ramallah to coordinate our technical assistance to the PA and support the work of Singapore’s Non-Resident Representative to the PA. PA Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Malki welcomed the opening of the representative office.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

20 MARCH 2022

Photo Caption: Call on Palestinian Authority Prime Minister His Excellency Dr Mohammad Shtayyeh by Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Photo Caption: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan conveyed an invite from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for Palestinian Authority Prime Minister His Excellency Dr Mohammad Shtayyeh to visit Singapore

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Photo Caption: Meeting between Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Palestinian Authority Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates His Excellency Dr Riyad Al-Malki

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore 

Photo Caption: Remarks to press by Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Palestinian Authority Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates His Excellency Dr Riyad Al-Malki at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Expatriates

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore 

Photo Caption: Meeting between Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Palestinian Authority Health Minister Her Excellency Dr Mai Al Kaila

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore