Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith, Minister for Defence John Faulkner and Minister for Trade Simon Crean will attend the sixth meeting of the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee (SAJMC) to be held in Singapore on 27 July 2009. Singapore will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo and Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang.
The SAJMC arose from the New Partnership initiative launched by the prime ministers of Singapore and Australia in January 1996. Hosted alternately between Singapore and Australia, the SAJMC meeting is a high-level bilateral dialogue mechanism that provides an opportunity for Singapore and Australian Ministers to reaffirm our excellent ties and enhance bilateral cooperation. The Ministers are expected to review bilateral relations between Singapore and Australia and have an exchange of views on regional and international political, economic and security developments. The SAJMC meeting was last held in Perth, Australia, in August 2005.
While in Singapore, the Australian Ministers will also attend a lunch hosted by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and make a joint call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.