Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan who is in New York for the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), met his counterparts from Grenada and Panama as well as the President of the Council on Foreign Relations Dr Richard Haass, Chairman of the Atlantic Council Governor Jon Huntsman, President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder, and the senior leadership of the American Jewish Committee, led by CEO David Harris.
Minister Balakrishnan and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Grenada, Elvin Nimrod discussed ways in which Singapore and Grenada could strengthen ties. Both Ministers agreed on the importance of the global effort to address climate change for small island states like Singapore and Grenada. They also discussed possible collaboration in areas such as logistics and port development, and promoting investment and trade.
Minister Balakrishnan and the Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, Isabel De Saint Malo De Alvarado, discussed the similarities between our two countries as small states with open economies, and particularly how we can strengthen cooperation in areas such as logistics and connectivity, where we have shared interests.
In his separate meetings with Dr Richard Haass, Governor Jon Huntsman, Ronald Lauder and the American Jewish Committee, Minister Vivian had good discussions on global and regional developments, particularly in the Middle East and Asia, as well as the importance of the expeditious ratification and entry into force of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
20 SEPTEMBER 2016
