Minister K Shanmugam with Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa (top left), Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa (top right), attending the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (IAMM) (bottom left) and the ASEAN-US Informal Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (bottom right). [Photos: MFA] Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam, who is in New York for the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), met his counterparts from Lebanon, Bahrain, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Guatemala and Indonesia.
With Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, Minister Shanmugam discussed developments in the Middle East and bilateral relations.
Minister Shanmugam and Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa reaffirmed the excellent relations between Singapore and Bahrain, as well as the commitment of both countries to continued cooperation in human resource development and to enhancing economic relations. The two Ministers also discussed ASEAN-GCC relations.
Minister Shanmugam and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov discussed ways of deepening economic linkages and cultural exchanges between Singapore and Turkmenistan.
With Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister Shanmugam discussed the state of bilateral relations. Both Ministers agreed that the two countries should look for ways to deepen cultural ties and people-to-people cooperation.
Minister Shanmugam and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala Harold Caballeros discussed the friendly relations between Singapore and Guatemala and their cooperation in various multilateral fora. The two Ministers looked forward to increased commercial and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Minister Shanmugam and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa discussed issues of common concern, including matters pertaining to ASEAN and the UN, and exchanged views on regional developments.
Minister Shanmugam also attended the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (IAMM) and the ASEAN-US Informal Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. At the IAMM, the Ministers engaged in frank discussions on key issues on the political-security agenda. The Ministers welcomed the draft ASEAN Human Rights Declaration submitted by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). The Ministers noted the two rounds of ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) and agreed to the Chairman’s suggestion to move these to a formal ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ meeting on a COC.
The ASEAN-US Informal Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was initiated by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Both sides noted the broad and deep nature of ASEAN-US relations, which celebrate their 35th anniversary this year. ASEAN Foreign Ministers and officials welcomed the commitment displayed by the US and Secretary Clinton to engage East Asia in a comprehensive manner. Both sides also exchanged views on regional developments, including progress made on a COC in the South China Sea.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
28 SEPTEMBER 2012