Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam met Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Senator John McCain (R-Arizona), who hosted him to lunch with other members of the SASC. Minister Shanmugam also met separately with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-California), Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) as well as Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas). Minister Shanmugam and the Congressmen discussed the strategic and economic importance of Asia to the US and ways in which the US’ engagement of Asia could be enhanced. In this regard, they exchanged views on the importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in anchoring the US’ presence in Asia.
In addition, Minister Shanmugam met with former US Deputy Secretary of State and President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Bill Burns and had dinner with current and former Administration officials to discuss international and regional developments.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
18 JUNE 2015