President Tony Tan Keng Yam began the first official visit by a Singapore Head of State to the Federal Republic of Germany by visiting Munich, the capital of the Federal State of Bavaria in southern Germany, from 25 to 27 June 2012.
On 25 June 2012, President Tan was hosted to an official lunch by Minister of State and Head of the State Chancellery of Bavaria Mr Thomas Kreuzer at the Prinz-Carl-Palais, the ceremonial seat of the Bavarian State Government. He was also received by the Lord Mayor of Munich Mr Christian Ude and signed the official guest book at the Munich Town Hall.
On 26 June 2012, President Tan met Minister-President of Bavaria Mr Horst Seehofer at the State Chancellery.
At these meetings, President Tan and the Bavarian state and municipal leaders reaffirmed the longstanding and strong relations between Singapore and the Federal State of Bavaria and City of Munich. They also exchanged views on developments in Europe, particularly the Eurozone crisis, and agreed on the excellent prospects for deeper cooperation between Singapore and Bavaria and Munich in the areas of trade and investments, education, and science and research. They also agreed on the importance of further strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties between Singapore and Bavaria and Munich.
In addition to meeting Bavarian political leaders, President Tan also visited the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a premier German university that has longstanding academic and research collaborations with Singapore universities. President Tan also visited the corporate headquarters of Siemens AG and Infineon Technologies AG, two leading examples of Bavarian companies that have made significant investments in Singapore. He also had dinner with senior executives of other prominent Bavarian companies.
President Tan is accompanied by Minister of State (Health) Dr Amy Khor, Members of Parliament Ms Foo Mee Har and Mr Vikram Nair, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Research Foundation, Economic Development Board and Monetary Authority of Singapore.
President Tan and his delegation will proceed next to Berlin for meetings with leaders of the Federal Government of Germany.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
27 JUNE 2012