25 Mar 2017
President of the French Republic François Hollande will make a State Visit to Singapore from 26 to 27 March 2017. This is the first State Visit to Singapore from France, and reciprocates President Tony Tan Keng Yam’s State Visit to France in 2015.
An official welcome ceremony will be held for President Hollande on 26 March 2017, followed by a courtesy call on President Tan. President Tan will host a State Banquet on the same evening. On 27 March 2017, President Hollande will meet and be hosted to lunch by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. President Hollande will also deliver the 40th Singapore Lecture, titled “France and Singapore, Strategic Partners in a Fast-Changing World”, which will be moderated by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam. In addition, President Hollande will jointly launch with Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan a joint venture between CMA CGM and PSA to operate four mega container berths at the new Pasir Panjang Terminal. President Hollande will also deliver the opening address at the Singapore-France Innovation Forum, which is jointly organised by the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the French Embassy in Singapore.
President Hollande’s visit will reaffirm the excellent and multifaceted bilateral relations between Singapore and France, as reflected in the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership issued in October 2012. The visit will also strengthen cooperation in innovation, a priority area in the growth strategies of both countries.
President Hollande will be accompanied by Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of State for Development and Francophonie Jean-Marie Le Guen, Minister of State for the Industry, Digital Sector and Innovation Christophe Sirugue, senior officials and a business delegation.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
25 MARCH 2017