MFA Press Statement: Official Visit by PM Lee Hsien Loong to Brussels, Belgium for the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting, 18 to 19 October 2018

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Brussels, Belgium for the 12^th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit from 18-19 October 2018.

PM Lee spoke first at the second Plenary Session on “Reinforcing the Multilateral System: Advancing the ASEM Partnership on Global Issues”. PM Lee highlighted the importance of sustaining a strong multilateral framework which all countries, big or small, would benefit from. PM Lee also spoke at the Retreat session on cybersecurity where he emphasized the importance of rules and norms in cyberspace which is a global commons.

On the sidelines of the ASEM Summit, PM Lee signed the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement with President of the European Council Donald Tusk, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, Presidency of the Council of the European Union Sebastian Kurz and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. PM Lee also witnessed the signing of the EU-Singapore Partnership and Cooperation Agreement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini and the EU-Singapore Investment Protection Agreement between Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations and Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Austria, Presidency of the Council of the European Union Nikolaus Marschik and EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström. Once ratified, the agreements will enhance our bilateral relations, including trade and investment links.

PM Lee also co-chaired an ASEAN-EU Leaders Meeting (AELM). Singapore is the current ASEAN Chair as well as coordinator for ASEAN-EU dialogue relations. The AELM reaffirmed the longstanding and multifaceted relationship between ASEAN and the EU, discussed regional and international developments of mutual concern, and reiterated a shared interest in upholding multilateralism and the international trading system.  Both sides agreed to further strengthen ASEAN-EU cooperation across all areas and on shared global challenges, in order to contribute to efforts to maintain regional peace and prosperity.

PM Lee also met on the sidelines with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, United Kingdom PM Theresa May, Portuguese PM Antonio Costa, Finnish PM Juha Sipilä, Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki, Croatian PM Andrej Plenković and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

21 OCTOBER 2018