04 Aug 2015
United States Secretary of State John Kerry, who is making his first official visit to Singapore, called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana today and was also hosted to breakfast by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam this morning.
During Secretary Kerry’s call on Prime Minister Lee, both sides reaffirmed the close and multi-faceted bilateral relations between Singapore and the US. Prime Minister Lee welcomed the US’ continued commitment to engage Asia and emphasised the significance of concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as a strong signal of this commitment.
During their breakfast meeting, Minister Shanmugam and Secretary Kerry took stock of the excellent bilateral relationship and reiterated both countries’ commitment to broaden and deepen bilateral cooperation. Minister Shanmugam and Secretary Kerry also discussed key regional and global developments and ways to enhance the US’ engagement of Asia. In this regard, Minister Shanmugam underscored the strategic importance of the TPP in anchoring the US’ presence in Asia. Minister Shanmugam and Secretary Kerry also emphasised the importance of all parties adhering to international law to manage the South China Sea disputes and maintain regional stability.
Minister Shanmugam and Secretary Kerry signed a Memorandum of Understanding renewing the Singapore-US Third Country Training Programme (TCTP), which provides technical assistance and capacity building to developing countries, in particular ASEAN Member States. The TCTP is a concrete example of the close partnership between Singapore and the US to enhance the US’ engagement of Asia.
Secretary Kerry delivered a speech in the afternoon on the importance of the US’ economic engagement of Asia at Singapore Management University. Secretary Kerry will depart Singapore later today.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
04 AUGUST 2015
Media Factsheet
SINGAPORE-UNITED STATES
THIRD COUNTRY TRAINING PROGRAMME
Singapore and the United States renewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Singapore-US Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) on 4 August 2015. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam and US Secretary of State John Kerry were signatories to the MOU.
2 The first MOU was signed between Minister Shanmugam and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in February 2012. The TCTP aims to extend technical assistance and capacity building to developing countries, in particular, ASEAN Member States. Over the last three years, 22 Singapore and US agencies have collaborated in 16 joint programmes focusing on three key areas: building regional resilience, promoting sustainable development, and supporting ASEAN connectivity. More than 500 regional officials have participated in TCTP programmes ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster management, to trade facilitation, energy efficiency, biosafety and healthcare, and urban transport.
3 The renewed MOU will see Singapore and the US extending cooperation on promoting regional integration, tackling cyber and other emerging security threats, and managing climate change.
4 The TCTP is one of several technical cooperation partnerships under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), Singapore’s primary platform for sharing our development experiences and expertise with other countries. The SCP, which was established in 1992, welcomed its 100,000th participant in June this year. The SCP has over 40 partnerships, including with international organisations such as UN agencies and IMF, and countries like Japan, Norway, Thailand, Turkey, Mexico and Chile.
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For media queries, please contact:
Danielle Koh
Technical Cooperation Directorate, MFA
Tel: 6379 8462
Email: danielle_koh@mfa.gov.sg