MFA Press Statement: Joint call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong by Participants of the High-Level Study Visit for the Pacific Island States and Timor-Leste, 9 February 2017

Joint Call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong by Participants of the High-Level Study Visit for the Pacific Island States and Timor-Leste. [Photo credit: MCI]

The participants of the High-Level Study Visit for the Pacific Island States[1] and Timor-Leste paid a joint call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today.  Among the participants are President of Nauru Baron Waqa, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Henry Puna, Prime Minister of Samoa Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, and Prime Minister of Tonga Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva; also participating in the Study Visit are nine Ministerial-level participants, and senior officials from the various countries.

During the joint call, PM and the participants reaffirmed the warm and friendly relations between Singapore, and the Pacific Island States and Timor-Leste.  Issues of common interest, including climate change and sustainable development were discussed at the meeting.  PM and the participants also exchanged views on regional and global developments.  PM emphasised Singapore’s commitment to continue supporting the development agendas of the Pacific Island States and Timor-Leste, and welcomed their officials to participate in Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) capacity-building programmes. 

Earlier today, participants visited the Port Operations Control Centre - PSA Vista and the ITE College Central.  They also toured the National Gallery Singapore.  Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will host a dinner for the participants this evening to conclude the Study Visit.   

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

9 FEBRUARY 2017                           

^[1] The 14 Pacific Island States are the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.  The heads of key regional organisations in the Pacific, namely the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF), and Pacific Community (SPC) are also represented in the Study Visit.