MFA Press Statement: 8th Coordinating Meeting Of The Thailand-Singapore Civil Service Exchange Programme (Csep), Bangkok, Thailand, 29 - 30 June 2008

Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo will lead a delegation of civil servants to Bangkok, Thailand for the 8th Coordinating Meeting of the Thailand-Singapore Civil Service Exchange Programme (CSEP) from 29 to 30 June 2008. Minister Yeo will jointly officiate the Opening Ceremony of the CSEP meeting with Khun Noppadon Pattama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. During the visit, Minister George Yeo will also separately call on Acting Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

Since its inception in 1997, CSEP has played an important role in promoting closer contact and enhancing cooperation between the two civil services in areas such as civil service; education; health; legal and judicial; land transport; science and technology; manpower; media, arts and culture; social welfare and youth; information communications technology; technical cooperation and cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Singapore and Thailand. The theme for this year's meeting is "Thailand and Singapore: Forging a Closer Civil Service Cooperation for a Stronger ASEAN Community".

The 8th CSEP Meeting will be co-chaired by Mr Peter Ho, Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs) of Singapore and Khun Virasakdi Futrakul, Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs) of Thailand. Senior officials from a number of ministries and government agencies will review the ongoing cooperation between the two civil services, and consider new proposals for further cooperation.

. . . . .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
28 JUNE 2008