Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, and Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert will attend the eighth meeting of the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee (SAJMC) in Singapore on 22 August 2014. (The SAJMC meeting was last held in Canberra in September 2012.) Singapore will be represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Lim Hng Kiang and Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen.
Launched in 1996 by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, the SAJMC is a high-level bilateral dialogue mechanism that is hosted alternately between Singapore and Australia. With 2015 marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Australia, the SAJMC meeting provides an opportunity for Singapore and Australian Ministers to comprehensively review bilateral relations and identify ways to expand cooperation. The Ministers are also expected to have an exchange of views on regional and international political, economic and security developments.
The Australian Ministers will also make a joint call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and be hosted to lunch by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
21 AUGUST 2014