A United States Congressional delegation led by Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong this morning at the Istana. The Congressional delegation comprises Members of the SASC: Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Senator Thomas Cotton (R-Arkansas), Senator Daniel Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa); and Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colorado).
During the meeting, PM Lee welcomed the US’ sustained and multi-faceted engagement of the Asia-Pacific region, and in this connection, reiterated the importance of the ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement by the US Congress. With 2016 marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the US, PM Lee and the Congressional delegation affirmed the robust and longstanding bilateral relationship between both countries, which encompasses strong economic, defence and people-to-people ties, as well as close cooperation on global and regional issues. PM Lee and the Congressional delegation also exchanged views on regional and international developments.
The Congressional delegation also met separately with Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam, and Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen.
The Congressional delegation is in Singapore from 3 to 4 June 2016 to attend the 2016 Shangri-La Dialogue.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
4 JUNE 2016