Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Frans Timmermans (left) calls on Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam (right). [Photo: MFA]Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will make an inaugural State Visit to Singapore from 23 to 25 January 2013 at the invitation of President Tony Tan Keng Yam. Queen Beatrix will be accompanied by her son Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange, his wife Princess Máxima, Minister of Foreign Affairs Frans Timmermans, Minister for International Trade Lilianne Ploumen, and a high-level business delegation.
An official Welcome Ceremony will be held in honour of Queen Beatrix at the Istana on 24 January 2013. In addition to meetings with President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President and Mrs Tan will also host a State Banquet in honour of Queen Beatrix.
Queen Beatrix will attend a “CEO Roundtable” organised by the Dutch Embassy in Singapore, and a networking event for Singapore and Dutch Small and Medium Enterprises organised by SPRING Singapore and the Dutch Embassy. These two events will provide opportunities for Dutch and Singapore business leaders to interact and explore new opportunites for economic cooperation. She will also visit the Urban Redevelopment Authority City Gallery to learn about the development of Singapore’s urban landscape.
On 25 January 2013, Queen Beatrix will attend a meeting organised by the Nanyang Technological University, which will focus on Singapore’s role as a global hub and knowledge economy. She will also witness the re-naming of the Aquatic Science Centre to the Van Kleef Centre, to pay tribute to Mr Karl Willem Benjamin Van Kleef, a Dutch philanthropist who resided in Singapore in the late 19th and early 20th century. To beautify Singapore, he had bequeathed the proceeds of his entire estate when he passed away in 1930. Queen Beatrix will also visit FusionWorld, an A*STAR research facility that showcases its latest inventions and prototypes. She will conclude her visit by attending a reception for the Dutch community in Singapore.
Earlier today, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Frans Timmermans called on Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam. The two Ministers exchanged views on global and regional developments, and reaffirmed the strong bilateral cooperation in various fields, particularly in terms of economics and environmental and water management. On his meeting with Minister Timmermans, Minister Shanmugam said, "Singapore and the Netherlands enjoy excellent bilateral relations, as we have many shared interests and common perspectives as small, pragmatic and outward looking states. I warmly welcome Her Majesty Queen Beatrix's inaugural State Visit to Singapore, and am confident that it will strengthen our bilateral ties and bring about new opportunities for collaboration."
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
23 JANUARY 2013