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Issue 52 July 2019 VISITS Official

Diplomats & Honorary Consuls Meet at
President’s Diplomatic Reception thisYear

(Source: MFA)

Armenia’s Prime
Minister Pashinyan

(Source: MCI / Chwee) Prime Minister of the Republic of Arme-
nia, HE Nikol Pashinyan, was on his first
This year’s President’s Diplomatic Reception was held on 11th July 2019 and this year, the Official Visit to Singapore from 7th to 9th
event, which is hosted by President Halimah Yacob to honour the Diplomatic Corps for July 2019, at the invitation of Prime Minister
promoting friendly relations with Singapore, was also attended by Singapore Honorary Con- Lee Hsien Loong. During his visit, Prime Min-
suls-General. In her message to the diplomats, the President said, “We may be a little red dot on the ister Pashinyan called on President Halimah
map, but Singapore enjoys excellent bilateral relations with the world. This is due to the good work Yacob, PM Lee and Speaker of Parliament Tan
of our diplomats, who play an important role in bridging understanding and appreciation between Chuan Jin. In addition, he visited the Economic
Singapore and other countries. It has been a tradition since 1985 to hold the President’s Annual Development Board and met business leaders
Diplomatic Reception to honour the Diplomatic Corps for promoting friendly relations with Singa- at a roundtable organised by the Singapore
pore. I hope we will continue to build our people-to-people relations. My thanks to all who joined Business Federation; he also visited the Sin-
us for the reception at the Istana.” gapore Botanic Gardens where an orchid was
named in his honour. On his visit to the Arme-
8th HCGs Meeting nian Church the Prime Minister met members
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) held its 8th Meeting of Singapore Honorary Consuls- of the Armenian community. He unveiled a
General (HCGs) from 8 to 12 July 2019. The last meeting was held in 2015. Singapore currently has sculpture of Vanda Miss Joaquim flowers in the
33 HCGs across 29 countries. Many are distinguished and well-respected individuals in their respec- First Botanic Garden at Armenian Street, which
tive countries and play a key role in promoting Singapore’s political, commercial and diplomatic was a contribution by the Armenian commu-
interests. In honour of their distinguished service, President Halimah Yacob hosted a tea reception for nity here. PM Pashinyan was accompanied by
the HCGs and their spouses at the Istana on 10 July 2019 and they also called on the Prime Minister his wife, Madame Anna Hakobyan­,­ Minister
and Mrs Lee Hsien Loong. The next day, they joined the Diplomatic Corps in Singapore to attend of Economy Tigran Khachatryan, Minister of
the President’s Annual Diplomatic Reception at the Istana. During the 8th Meeting, they also had the High-Technological Industry Hakob Arshaky-
opportunity to engage in a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng an, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Avet
Swee Keat and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan separately. Adonts and senior government officials.

VISIT State

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohammed
Solih Signed Open Air Agreement

On 1st July 2019, the President of the (Source: MFA)
Republic of Maldives, HE Ibrahim
Mohamed Solih, had meetings with Timor Leste Foreign
President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Minister Soares
Lee Hsien Loong. President Solih briefed
them on the priorities of his government, (Source: PMO) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Coop-
including on sustainable development. In Maldives’ and Singapore’s Ministries of Foreign eration of the Democratic Republic
this regard, Singapore will provide a two- Affairs to strengthen bilateral exchanges and of Timor-Leste Dionísio da Costa
year technical cooperation package, through cooperation between the foreign ministries. Babo Soares was on his first Official Visit to
the Singapore Cooperation Programme, for Singapore from 8th to 9th July 2019. During his
senior Maldivian officials including that of visit, Minister Soares met Minister for Foreign
sustainable development. Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and also paid
Both sides also identified opportunities for a courtesy call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien
further collaboration in healthcare, security, Loong. While in Singapore, Minister Soares
infrastructure and connectivity. PM Lee and attended the Timor-Leste-Singapore Business
President Solih also witnessed the signing of Forum organised by the Timor-Leste Embassy
two agreements: An Open Skies Agreement in Singapore. He also delivered a Distinguished
and MOU on Cooperation between the Public Lecture at the S Rajaratnam School of
International Studies.

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