MFA Press Statement: Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam to Perth, Australia

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam, who is in Perth, Australia for the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting preceding the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), attended the Commonwealth and Developing Small States Meeting hosted by Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Kevin Rudd on 25 October 2011. He also met with his counterparts from various Commonwealth countries.

In Minister Shanmugam's separate meetings with the Belize Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Wilfred Peter Erlington, Barbados Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Maxine McClean and Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Brent Symonette, they reviewed the current state of bilateral relations between Singapore and the three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries. Minister Shanmugam conveyed Singapore's interest to step up engagement with the member states of the CARICOM, which was warmly welcomed by all three CARICOM Foreign Ministers. Minister McClean (Barbados) and Deputy Prime Minister Symonette (Bahamas) thanked Singapore for taking the initiative to convene the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Global Governance Group (3G) at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, which enabled 3G members to exchange views with the past, present and future Chairs of G-20 - the Republic of Korea, France and Mexico - in preparation for the forthcoming G-20 Summit in Cannes, France. The Ministers also discussed issues on the Commonwealth agenda, including the recommendations made by the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group.

Namibian Minister of Foreign Affairs Utoni Nujoma updated Minister Shanmugam on the economic situation in Namibia. Both Ministers noted an increase in bilateral economic ties and agreed that this should be encouraged. Minister Nujoma also thanked Singapore for providing training opportunities for Namibian officials under the Singapore Cooperation Programme.

Vanuatu Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Alfred Carlot and Minister Shanmugam exchanged views on the impact of climate change on small states and the ongoing UNFCCC climate change negotiations. Minister Shanmugam conveyed Singapore's desire to promote stronger relations with the member states of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), including Vanuatu. Minister Carlot welcomed this.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
25 OCTOBER 2011