MFA Press Statement: Visit by President of the French Senate, Mr Jean-Pierre Bel, 20 to 22 April 2014

         President of the French Senate Mr Jean-Pierre Bel, who is visiting Singapore from 20 to 22 April 2014 with Senator of Gironde and President of the France-Singapore Parliamentary Friendship Group Ms Marie-Hélène Des Esgaulx and Senator of Essonne Mr Jean-Vincent Placé, had meetings with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Speaker of Parliament Mdm Halimah Yacob and Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Ms Grace Fu today. Bel’s visit to Singapore is at the invitation of PM Lee.

         During the meetings, they noted the excellent bilateral relations and longstanding cooperation between Singapore and France, as well as the shared perspectives on many global issues. Bel expressed France’s continued support for the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, which will benefit both Singapore and France once it comes into force. They also noted that 2015 will mark Singapore’s Golden Jubilee and 50 years of Singapore-France relations.

         Bel will call on President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam tomorrow at the Istana.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Singapore

21 April 2014