MFA Press Statement: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan at the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, 27 September 2018

  Minister Balakrishnan had separate meetings with former US Secretary of State Dr Henry Kissinger, and former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg.  He also met American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO and Executive Director David Harris and other members of the AJC leadership.  Minister Balakrishnan had wide ranging discussions during these meetings on developments in the United States, the Asia Pacific, and global trends. 

 

Minister Balakrishnan hosted a luncheon for the leaders of Pacific Island States and Timor-Leste.  They discussed common challenges and interests of small island states, including those relating to oceans and climate change.  They reaffirmed the need to continue working together to address the adverse effects of climate change, conserve and sustainably use the oceans and its resources, and achieve sustainable development.  They discussed ways to forge closer cooperation in capacity building and development.

 

Minister Balakrishnan also held bilateral meetings with Liechtenstein Minister of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Culture Aurelia Frick, and Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Holmes Trujillo-García.  In the meeting with Liechtenstein, they exchanged views on the opportunities and challenges of the ongoing digital revolution, and reaffirmed importance of upholding a multilateral, rules-based international order, particularly for small states like Singapore and Liechtenstein.  During the meeting with Colombia, they discussed regional developments and ways to strengthen economic cooperation.     

 

[L to R: Fiji Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster ManagementInia Seruiratu; Papua New Guinea Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Rimbink Pato; Timor-Leste Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dionisio Da Costa Babo Soares; Samoa Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Tuila’epa Lupesoliai Sailele; Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan; Kiribati Minister of Environment, Lands, and Agriculture Development Alexander Teabo; Palau Minister of Health Dr Emais Roberts; Tonga Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Fisheries Semisi Tauelangi Fakahau; Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Milner Tozaka; Marshall Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs John Silk; Vanuatu Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade Ralph Regenvanu.]