Senior Minister of State (SMS), Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman attended the 8th Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) in Busan, the Republic of Korea on 31 August 2017. During the FEALAC FMM, SMS Maliki underscored the potential for increased trade between East Asia and Latin America, and to leverage each region’s strengths to find common solutions to the global challenges posed by rising protectionism, urbanisation and rapid industrialisation. He reiterated Singapore’s commitment to supporting FEALAC’s work towards promoting greater cross-cultural awareness and understanding between the two regions. SMS Maliki also met his East Asian and Latin American counterparts, including Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Nakane Kazuyuki, and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Paraguay Ambassador Óscar Cabello Sarubbi. They discussed issues of common concern and opportunities to deepen trade and investment links, as well as people-to-people ties between the two regions.
SMS Maliki also attended the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN Culture House (ACH) in Busan on 1 September 2017. The ACH is an initiative by the ROK to commemorate 2017 as the year of ASEAN-ROK Cultural Exchange, which coincides with ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary. Comprising Permanent and Special Exhibitions, the ACH showcases the unique heritage of each ASEAN Member State. It aims to enhance understanding of Southeast Asian culture in the ROK and promote greater cultural exchange between both sides.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
1 SEPTEMBER 2017