MFA Press Statement: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam at the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, 24 September 2011

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam, who is in New York for the 66th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, attended the Informal Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Meeting on 24 September 2011. He also had bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Trinidad and Tobago, and Bahrain.

At the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers discussed regional and international issues, including preparations for the Ministers' meeting with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the President of the 66th UN General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser on 27 September 2011, as well as the 19th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in November 2011. In addition, Minister Shanmugam also attended a meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission.

Minster Shanmugam and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Surujrattan Rambachan reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways of increasing cooperation in trade and energy.

Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and Minister Shanmugam reaffirmed the excellent bilateral relations between their two countries and exchanged views on ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) cooperation.

Minister Shanmugam also attended the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Ministerial Meeting today. He discussed the economic and environmental challenges faced by small island countries with Ministers of other AOSIS member states.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
25 SEPTEMBER 2011