Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo is currently in Canberra on an official visit from 15 to 19 June 2010 at the invitation of Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.
Minister Yeo called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and met with Minister Smith this morning. Minister Yeo reaffirmed the excellent ties between Singapore and Australia. Both sides commended the close, broad-based and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, including the strong economic, defence and security relations as well as people-to-people ties. They had wide-ranging discussions on regional and global developments, including the regional architecture. Minister Yeo thanked PM Rudd for his contributions to the ongoing discussions by ASEAN to strengthen the regional architecture. They agreed on the importance of embedding the US' continued presence in the region, as well as ASEAN's centrality in the evolving regional architecture. Following Minister Yeo's meeting with Minister Smith, both Foreign Ministers held a joint press conference. This was followed by lunch hosted by Minister Smith in honour of Minister Yeo.
Minister Yeo also met with the Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott, Deputy Leader Ms Julie Bishop and Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction Andrew Robb. They discussed how the excellent bilateral relations between both countries could be further improved. In addition, Minister Yeo met with the Minister for Employment Participation and Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery Senator Mark Arbib.
Minister Yeo laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in the afternoon.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
16 JUNE 2010