11 Jul 2012
MFA Press Statement: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam at the Post Ministerial Conferences and the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum, 10 to 13 July 2012
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam attended the Post
Ministerial Conferences in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 11 July 2012. The ASEAN
Foreign Ministers met their counterparts from each of ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners(namely, Australia, Canada, China, European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand,
Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the United States) to review relations and
ongoing cooperation. Singapore handed over the Country Coordinatorship of the
ASEAN-Australia Dialogue to the Philippines and took up the Country Coordinatorship
of the ASEAN-Canada Dialogue from Thailand. Minister Shanmugam also had bilateral
meetings with Brunei Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Lim Jock
Seng, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun and
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird at the sidelines of the meetings.
Pehin Lim and Minister Shanmugam reaffirmed the excellent and warm relations
between Brunei and Singapore. Minister Shanmugam affirmed Singapore's support for
Brunei's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2013 and expressed our confidence that ASEAN will
achieve significant progress in realising its Community-Building goals under Brunei's
Chairmanship.
Minister Pak and Minister Shanmugam exchanged views on bilateral relations and
developments on the Korean Peninsula. Minister Shanmugam welcomed the DPRK’s
engagement with ASEAN, and expressed hope that all parties would work sincerely
and constructively, through dialogue and other peaceful measures, towards ensuring
peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. Minister Shanmugam also urged the DPRK
to address international concerns over non-proliferation.
Minister Baird and Minister Shanmugam welcomed Singapore’s assumption of the
Country Coordinatorship of the ASEAN-Canada Dialogue and reaffirmed their
countries’ commitment towards strengthening ASEAN-Canada relations. Both
Ministers also had a substantive discussion on regional issues of mutual concern.
Minister Shanmugam took the opportunity to welcome Canada’s entry into the Trans
Pacific Partnership negotiations as a valuable partner in the development of a high
quality trade agreement which would boost free trade and help spur economic
growth in the Asia Pacific.
. . . . .
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
11 JULY 2012