MFA Press Statement: State Visits by President Tony Tan Keng Yam to the Republic of Poland and the Czech Republic from 21 to 27 May 2017

President Tony Tan Keng Yam will make State Visits to the Republic of Poland from 21 to 23 May 2017, and to the Czech Republic from 23 to 27 May 2017.  This will be the first State Visit by a Singapore Head of State to Poland, and the second to the Czech Republic.  The visits will showcase the growing ties between Singapore and these two countries. 

In Poland, President Tan will visit Warsaw.  He will receive a ceremonial welcome and meet President Andrzej Duda, who will host a State Dinner.  President Tan and President Duda will witness the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding to enhance cooperation between the economic agencies as well as research institutes of Singapore and Poland.  President Tan will also meet the heads of both Polish houses of parliament, Marshal of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński and Marshal of the Senate Stanisław Karczewski, and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  In addition, President Tan and President Duda will jointly open the Poland-Singapore Business Forum, organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH).  President Tan will also host a reception with the overseas Singaporean community in Warsaw.

In the Czech Republic, President Tan will visit Prague and Ćeský-Krumlov.  He will receive a ceremonial welcome and meet President Miloš Zeman, who will host a State Lunch.  President Tan and President Zeman will witness the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding on cooperation between the economic agencies as well as universities of Singapore and Czech Republic.  President Tan will also meet Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and the heads of both Czech houses of parliament, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Jan Hamáček and President of the Senate Milan Štĕch.  In addition, President Tan will meet the Mayor of Prague Adriana Krnáčová, who will present him with a symbolic key to the city of Prague.  President Tan will also make a day visit to Ćeský-Krumlov, where he will meet Mayor of Ćeský-Krumlov Dalibor Carda. 

President will be accompanied by Mrs Mary Tan, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S Iswaran, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Manpower, and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Josephine Teo, Members of Parliament Henry Kwek and Sun Xueling, as well as officials from the President’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.  A business delegation co-led by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore and SBF will also visit Poland and the Czech Republic in conjunction with the State Visits. 

During President Tan’s absence, Mr J Y Pillay, Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers, will exercise the functions of the office of the President from 20 to 28 May 2017.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

20 MAY 2017