MFA Press Statement: Visit of Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean to the State of Qatar and Joint Press Statement on the Seventh Meeting of the Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee, 6 Mar

Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Teo Chee Hean, calling on the Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, on 6 March 2016 in the Emiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar prior to the Seventh Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee. (Photo Credit: MFA)

            Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean called on His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar on 6 March 2016.  DPM Teo expressed his appreciation for His Highness Sheikh Tamim’s personal support for the bilateral relationship.  His Highness Sheikh Tamim said that he looked forward to visiting Singapore at President Tony Tan Keng Yam’s invitation.  His Highness Sheikh Tamim and DPM Teo discussed mutual issues of interest to Qatar and Singapore, such as water resource management, human resource development, and countering violent extremism. 

               DPM Teo had a separate call on His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Interior Minister of the State of Qatar.  His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah and DPM Teo discussed new opportunities for bilateral cooperation, including in the fields of urban solutions and education.  They also had a good exchange of views on regional issues. They subsequently co-chaired the Seventh Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC) meeting.  This was followed by a lunch hosted by His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah for the Singapore delegation, which comprised of Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Minister of State for Finance and Senior Minister of State for Law Ms Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Minister of State for Communications and Information and Minister of State for Education Dr Janil Puthucheary, Minister of State for National Development and Minister of State for Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon, and Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Mr Amrin Amin.  Both co-chairs expressed satisfaction with the excellent state of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to the HLJC as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation.  The Joint Statement on the Seventh HLJC meeting is attached.      

               This evening, DPM Teo and the Singapore political office holders met about 250 Singaporeans at a reception hosted by The Red Dotters@Qatar in conjunction with its tenth anniversary.  The Red Dotters association brings together Singaporeans living in Qatar through events celebrating and promoting Singapore’s multicultural identity.   

               On 7 March 2016, DPM Teo will be visiting the Doha North Sewage Treatment Works at Umm Salal Ali, which was built and operated by Keppel Seghers.  His Excellency Nasser Bin Ali Al Mawlawi, President of Qatar Public Works Authority (ASHGHAL), will accompany DPM Teo during the tour of the facility. 

               DPM Teo will depart for Cairo, Egypt tomorrow.  

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

6 MARCH 2016