MFA Press Statement: Visit to Singapore by Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy Rocco Buttiglione, 3-6 December 2012

The Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, Mr Rocco Buttiglione, who is visiting Singapore from 3 to 6 December 2012, called on Minister in Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Environment and Water Resources & Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Grace Fu and was hosted to lunch by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Community, Culture and Youth Mr Sam Tan on 5 December 2012.

During the meetings, they reaffirmed the good bilateral relations between Singapore and Italy, and welcomed the entry into force of the Additional Protocol to the Singapore-Italy Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement in October 2012. They agreed that there was significant potential for Singapore and Italy to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in areas of business, design, science and technology, and looked forward to the conclusion of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA). They also exchanged views on developments in Asia and Europe.

While in Singapore, Mr Buttiglione also called on Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Lee Yi Shyan, and met with Members of the Singapore-Europe Parliamentary Regional Group. He will call on Minister of State for Finance and Transport Mrs Josephine Teo tomorrow.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
5 DECEMBER 2012