Official Visit by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to the Republic of South Africa, 16 May 2023

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is on an Official Visit to South Africa from 14 to 16 May 2023. Prime Minister Lee was received by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on 16 May at Tuynhuys, the Presidential Office, in Cape Town.

At the delegation meeting hosted by President Ramaphosa, both sides welcomed the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and reaffirmed the broad-based bilateral partnership. Prime Minister Lee and President Ramaphosa reviewed existing areas of cooperation, including the spheres of air connectivity, and economic and people-to-people linkages, and discussed new areas for cooperation such as information and communications technology (ICT). The delegations also discussed regional and global issues and South Africa’s application for ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partnership, which Singapore supports.

Prime Minister Lee and President Ramaphosa witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on bilateral cooperation in the areas of ICT and Skills Development. The MOU on ICT will build on the existing bilateral partnership and pursue cooperation in new areas, including the exchange of best practices and collaboration in existing and new/emerging aspects of ICT. The MOU on Skills Development will enhance Singapore’s cooperation with South Africa in skills development in areas such as leadership and governance, education, and digitalisation, through knowledge exchange, capacity-building courses, and other activities. The two leaders then held a Joint Press Conference.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

16 MAY 2023