MFA Press Statement: Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo to the Czech Republic, 10 - 11 April 2008

Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo was in Prague, the Czech Republic from 10 - 11 April 2008, for the last leg of his one-week Central Europe tour.

En route from Bratislava to Prague on 10 April 2008, Minister George Yeo made a short stop in the city of Brno, one of the major cities of the Czech Republic. During the call on Brno Mayor Roman Onderka, Minister Yeo was briefed on the city's main growth areas of culture, industry and research and development.

In Prague, Minister Yeo called on Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Mirek Topolánek on 10 April. They discussed opportunities for both countries to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, education, science and research. Both agreed to encourage more visits by business delegations, so that the business sectors could have a better understanding of economic opportunities available in a fast-expanding Central Europe. They also exchanged views on the increasing cooperation between the EU and ASEAN. Prime Minister Topolánek briefed Minister Yeo on the priorities of the Czech Republic for its EU Presidency in the first half of 2009. Minister Yeo also conveyed the invitation from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Prime Minister Topolánek to make an official visit to Singapore.

Minister Yeo met with and was hosted to lunch by Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwazenberg on 11 April 2008. During their discussion, both Ministers agreed that the two countries could work more closely together in the areas of business, science and technology, the environment, energy security and climate change. They also discussed developments in Asia, such as the rapid growth of the economies of China and India, the ASEAN Charter, developments in North Korea, and the respective situations in Myanmar and Tibet. On Tibet, the Ministers acknowledged that while their opinions might differ in certain areas, they were united the hope that China would be able to reach a peaceful solution.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
11 APRIL 2008