MFA Press Statement: Official Visit of Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom The Right Honourable Philip Hammond MP, 30 January 2015

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom The Right Honourable

Philip Hammond MP called on President Tony Tan Keng Yam, 30 January 2015.

[Photo: MCI]

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom The Right Honourable

Philip Hammond MP called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 30 January 2015. [Photo: MCI]

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam hosted Secretary of State

for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom The Right Honourable Philip Hammond MP to lunch

on 30 January 2015.

[Photo: MFA]

                The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom The Right Honourable Philip Hammond MP, who is here on an official visit, paid separate courtesy calls on President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana today.  During the two meetings, they reviewed bilateral relations on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the UK this year and reaffirmed the strong bilateral ties between the two countries. 

                President Tan and Mr Hammond agreed that the two countries should continue to work together on the various joint initiatives announced in conjunction with President Tan’s State Visit to the UK in October 2014.  Prime Minister Lee and Mr Hammond exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including regional and global developments.  Mr Hammond also reaffirmed the UK’s support for the speedy ratification of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.

                    Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam also hosted lunch for Mr Hammond and his delegation.  Minister Shanmugam and Mr Hammond discussed global strategic issues and the UK’s continued engagement of Asia.  

                    Mr Hammond gave the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Distinguished Public Lecture on the topic, “The United Kingdom’s Engagement of Asia and Singapore”.   Mr Hammond will depart Singapore on 31 January 2015.  

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

30 JANUARY 2015