Minister of State (MOS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development, Sam Tan is in Rovaniemi, Finland, to attend the 11th Arctic Council (AC) Ministerial Meeting.
Following the conclusion of the 11th AC Ministerial Meeting on 7 May, the Rovaniemi Joint Ministerial Statement and the Chair’s Statement were issued summarising the key deliberations of the meeting. The Chair’s Statement also reaffirmed Singapore’s Observership in the AC following the review of several AC Observers undertaken during Finland’s Chairmanship term. This was part of a regular review of the contributions by Observers.
Singapore welcomes the reaffirmation of our Observership in the AC and remains firmly committed to the work of the AC. Since gaining Observer Status in 2013, we have contributed to the AC by participating in high-level international Arctic events and raising regional awareness of Arctic issues. As a low-lying coastal state, Singapore is vulnerable to rising sea levels and the Arctic is a barometer of climate change.
On the sidelines of the 11th AC Ministerial Meeting, MOS Tan met Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Margot Wallström and other senior Arctic officials. During these meetings MOS Tan and his interlocutors reaffirmed bilateral relations and explored further ways for Singapore to collaborate with the AC.
MOS Tan will meet Mayor of Rovaniemi Esko Lotvonen tomorrow before departing for Singapore.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
7 MAY 2019
MOS Sam Tan and Minister for Foreign AFfairs of Sweden Margot Wallström (credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore)
MOS Sam Tan and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson (credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore)
