14 Jul 2012
MFA Press Statement: Visit by Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Lui Tuck Yew to Siem Reap, Cambodia for the “Commitment to Connectivity” US-ASEAN Business Forum
Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Lui Tuck Yew attended the “Commitment to Connectivity” US-ASEAN Business Forum (C2C Forum) as a panellist in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on 13 July 2012, at the invitation of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Minister Lui expressed appreciation for Secretary Clinton's leadership on the C2C Forum and conveyed Singapore’s strong support for it.
Minister Lui delivered remarks at a roundtable discussion session titled “Regional Perspectives: Views on Energy, Infrastructure, and Connectivity”. Noting the US’ longstanding friendship with ASEAN, Minister Lui welcomed the US’ broad-based and multi-faceted engagement of the region.
Minister Lui noted that ASEAN, with a combined population of over 600 million people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$1.8 trillion, offered an attractive destination for US businesses. Minister Lui welcomed the participation of the US and other stakeholders, including the private sector, in the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC), particularly through Public Private Partnerships. The MPAC aimed to link up the region not only through the development of roads and rail, but also virtual highways through broadband infrastructure. ASEAN was also streamlining policy and legal processes to facilitate trade and the free flow of goods and services in the region.
Minister Lui also attended a Plenary Dinner featuring keynote addresses by Secretary Clinton, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and Myanmar President Thein Sein.
Minister Lui had a bilateral meeting with US Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sanchez on the sidelines of the C2C Forum. Both sides had a good discussion on how to broaden and deepen the US-Singapore trade relationship, and exchanged views on international and regional issues.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
14 JULY 2012