MFA Press Statement: 10th Meeting of the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee, Singapore, 21 August 2017

            Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, Minister for Defence Marise Payne, and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo will attend the 10^th meeting of the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee (SAJMC) in Singapore on 21 August 2017. Singapore will be represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Lim Hng Kiang and Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen. The SAJMC will be co-chaired by Minister Balakrishnan and Minister Bishop.

            The SAJMC is a high-level bilateral dialogue mechanism that is hosted alternately between Singapore and Australia. The 10^th ministerial meeting will commemorate 20 years of the SAJMC, since the first meeting in October 1996. The Singapore and Australian Ministers will review bilateral cooperation, including the implementation of the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and exchange views on international and regional political, economic and security developments. The 10^th SAJMC meeting builds on the positive momentum in bilateral relations from Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Official Visit to Singapore from 2 to 3 June 2017 for the 2^nd Singapore-Australia Leaders’ Summit.

            The Australian Ministers will also make a joint call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and be hosted to lunch by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean.

             In addition, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Josephine Teo and Minister Bishop will co-chair the Singapore-Australia High-Level Women’s Dialogue after the SAJMC on 21 August 2017.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

20 AUGUST 2017