MFA Press Statement: Official Visit of Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed to Kazakhstan, 12 – 17 October 2008

Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed attended the 7th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan on 16 October 2008. The Meeting reaffirmed the importance of the ACD as a platform to further strengthen regional cooperation. SMS Zainul, in his country statement, dwelled on food security and expressed concern about how protectionist tendencies could further worsen the situation. He called on the need to look at long-term solutions including investments in activities to promote productivity gains as well as high-end research and development in new and more resilient strains of staples. Many delegations also expressed similar concern and recognised the need to intensify efforts to address the issue of food security.

Together with the rest of the ACD Heads of Delegations, SMS Zainul also jointly called on the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. President Nazarbayev had visited Singapore twice in 1996 and 2003. When told that SMS was from Singapore, President Nazarbayez said that he had fond memories of his visits to Singapore and he looked forward to his next visit here. SMS praised President Nazarbayev for Kazakhstan's ACD initiatives on energy, transport and food security.

Besides his involvement in the ACD Ministerial Meeting, SMS Zainul also took the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Hamrokhon Zarifi and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development of the United Arab Emirates Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais. SMS Zainul also had pull-aside meetings with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Nizar Bin Obaid Madani and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain Dr. Nezar Al-Baharnah.

While in Astana, Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Nurlan Yermekbayev hosted SMS Zainul to dinner. During dinner, both sides discussed the state of bilateral relations, future areas for cooperation and exchanged notes on the situations in their respective regions.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
18 OCTOBER 2008