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Issue 56 November 2019

VISITS Official

PM Lee’s First OfficialVisit to
Mexico Underscored Growing
BilateralTies andTrade

Bilateral relations underpinned by the increased high-level
interactions, growth in trade and investment flows

In a joint statement issued by Singapore to further enhance
and the United Mexican States govern- trade and produc-
ments, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong tive investment for
and Mexico’s President López Obrador noted both countries, and Meeting between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President of the
the growing trade and investment cooperation supported the inten- United Mexican States Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Photo: MCI)
between both countries. In 2018, bilateral trade
amounted to over US$2.8 billion, making Mexico tion of concluding the process this year. They also US$871 million. A lot of Singaporean companies
Singapore’s second largest trading partner in underscored the importance of the Comprehen- are active in many sectors in Mexico, including
Latin America. Both leaders looked forward to sive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific energy, manufacturing, fintech, infrastructure,
the successful completion of the negotiations that Partnership (CPTPP), a high-standard agreement and hospitality.
will lead to Singapore becoming an Associate already in force between Singapore and Mexico.
Member of the Pacific Alliance, a step that seeks President López Obrador also welcomed Singa-
pore’s investments in Mexico, that totalled over Full report visit www.indiplomacy.com

Inaugural RISING 50 Fellowship PM Lee Hsien Loong
@ 35th ASEAN
Regional leaders from Indonesia came for the launch of the Fellowship Summit, Bangkok

(Sixth from l to r): Ambassador Ngurah Swajaya, DPM Heng Swee Keat and Minister Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was in
Dr Vivian Balakrishan together with the regional Indonesian leaders. (Source: MFA) Bangkok, Thailand, from 2nd to 4th
November 2019, to attend the 35th
Minister for Trade and Industry Chan many more RISING Fellows to Singapore in ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. In line
Chun Sing and Minister for Foreign the future.” with Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme of
Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan Indonesian Regional Leaders Who Attended “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”, the
engaged with Indonesia’s regional leaders n Riau Governor Syamsuar ASEAN Leaders discussed ways to incorporate
when they graced the opening and closing n West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno sustainability in ASEAN’s Community-building
ceremonies of the RISING 50 Fellowship n South Sulawesi Vice-Governor Andi efforts, reinforce ASEAN Centrality and unity,
respectively. At the closing ceremony today, and promote regional peace and stability.
Minister Balakrishnan reiterated Singapore’s Sudirman Sulaiman In addition, the ASEAN Leaders met with their
commitment to deepen and broaden the n East Java Vice-Governor Emil Elestianto counterparts during the 22nd ASEAN Plus
city-state ties with the various regions in Three Summit, the 14th East Asia Summit, and
Indonesia, which would strengthen trust Dardak Summits with China, India, Japan, the United
between leaders of Singapore and Indonesia. n Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto Nations, and the United States.
Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in his speech n Batam Mayor Muhammad Rudi PM Lee was accompanied by Minister for
made the point that Singapore’s relationship n Jambi Mayor Syarif Fasha Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and
with Indonesia is wider and deeper than just n Belitung Regent H. Sahani Saleh Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun
Jakarta: “That is why we are committed to The regional leaders also met Deputy Prime Sing.
engaging Indonesia’s provinces, regencies, Minister and Minister for Finance Heng
and towns, and we hope to intensify this Swee Keat with whom they had a wide- Asean-US Summit Message
engagement. The RISING Fellowship ranging discussion on global and regional
demonstrates our commitment to developments and reaffirmed the excellent At the 7th ASEAN-United States (US) Summit
strengthen ties with Indonesia at all levels, bilateral relations. They discussed the diverse Foreign Minister Balakrishnan welcomed the US
with all provinces, with all regencies and economic opportunities in various Indonesian efforts to deepen and sustain its engagement of
regions, and we look forward to welcoming regions; the leaders also welcomed more ASEAN and the region.
Singapore investments in their regions. Minister Balakrishnan underscored ASEAN’s
substantive and multifaceted cooperation with
Fellowship Note: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced the US. He also highlighted the region’s need
the RISING Fellowship at the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat last year. The Fellowship seeks to for infrastructural development on a massive
deepen ties between Singapore and Indonesia’s regional leaders through the sharing of experiences scale in the next few decades, and welcomed
and exchange of best practices. the US’ newly launched Blue Dot Network
initiative which seeks to raise standards for
infrastructure projects around the world,
including the mobilisation of private sector
capital. He added that Singapore looked
forward to the US sharing more details on the
concept and implementation mechanisms.

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