ASEAN Jubilee Meeting in Manila PM Lee on the Spirit of Singapore
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Issue 33 11 August 2017 Click here for www.indiplomacy.com more on Sun Media PM Lee on the Spirit of Singapore n a departure from past telecast practice the Prime Minister’s National Day Message was delivered by PM Lee Hsien Loong with the Marina Bay as a backdrop to Ihighlight how Singapore’s successful development rests on not just tackling pressing issues of today but also addressing the challenges of the future - this he said was the Spirit of Singapore. The choice of the Bay East Garden, the eastern section of Gardens by the Bay location is also where the Singapore Founders Memorial will be sited. For the full text of his speech click here. Lecture S.T. Lee Distinguished Lecture of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore Co-chairing the ASEAN-China Post Ministerial Conference with PRC FM Wang Yi 12th July 2017 (Source: Dr Balakrishnan’s FB page) ASEAN Jubilee Meeting in Manila India, ASEAN and Changing Geoplolitics inister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian n Review ASEAN’s external relations and Balakrishnan attended the 50th exchange views on regional and international by Dr. S. Jaishankar Foreign Secre- ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meet- issues. tary, Ministry of External Affairs, Ming (AMM), Post-Ministerial Conferences (PMCs), 18th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) At the PMCs, the ASEAN FMs met their India to mark 25 years of India- Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM), 7th East counterparts from ASEAN’s Dialogue Part- Singapore Partnership Asia Summit (EAS) FMM and 24th ASEAN ners (namely Australia, Canada, China, the Click here for transcript Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila, Philippines European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, from 3 to 8 August 2017. the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States) to discuss both ongoing and future IISS-Fullerton Lecture Against the backdrop of ASEAN’s 50th An- cooperation. The ASEAN FMs will also en- 20th July 2017 niversary this year, the ASEAN Foreign Min- gage their counterparts at the APT FMM, EAS isters (FMs) took stock of progress in regional FMM and ARF on key regional developments India, the United States cooperation and planned the path ahead for and the evolving regional architecture. the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. Dicus- Minister Balakrishnan will be accompanied by and China sions covered n How to strengthen ASEAN officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Centrality and unity Click here to visit IISS website for the transcript of the speech and video clip of the speech and Q&A session that followed. 1 https://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/media_centre/press_room/pr/2017/201706/ press_20170629.html https://borneobulletin.com.bn/spore-delegation-pays-raya-visit- minister/ IN Diplomacy Issue 33 11 August 2017 Dr VB Visit Sri Lanka New Canadian Scholarship awaka, Minister of Development Strategies and Programme for ASEAN International Trade Malik Samarawickrama, Jubilee Minister of Law and Order and Southern De- velopment Sagala Ratnayaka and Leader of the o mark ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary and Opposition Rajavarothiam Sampanthan. the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN-Cana- During the meetings with Sri Lankan da dialogue partner relations, the Hon- leaders, Minister Balakrishnan reaffirmed the Tourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign warm and growing relations between Singapore Affairs, announced on behalf of the Honourable and Sri Lanka, and discussed ways to expand Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International bilateral cooperation. Minister Balakrishnan Development and La Francophonie, that Can- underscored the importance of the expedi- ada will support a new scholarship programme tious conclusion of the Sri Lanka – Singapore for ASEAN. This initiative will provide US$10 Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Minister million over five years for post-secondary Karunanayake hosted Minister Balakrishnan students and mid-career professionals from and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Southeast Asia to access world-class education Julie Bishop to a joint breakfast meeting, where in Canada. The Minister made the announce- they discussed trade, investment and connec- ment at the Canada-ASEAN Post Ministerial tivity initiatives across the Indian Ocean. Min- Conference in Manila, Philippines. ister Balakrishnan also witnessed the signing of Canada is committed to combating pov- a MOU between the Singapore Red Cross and erty and promoting human rights in Southeast inister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian the Sri Lankan Red Cross on relief and rehabili- Asia, especially the rights of women, girls and Balakrishnan made an introduc- tation programmes in Sri Lanka. migrants. The Scholarships and Educational tory visit to the Democratic Socialist In Jaffna, Minister Balakrishnan met Gov- Exchanges for Development initiative will pro- MRepublic of Sri Lanka from 17 to 20 July 2017. ernor of the Northern Province Reginald Co- vide individuals from ASEAN member states, Minister Balakrishnan visited Colombo and oray and Chief Minister of the Northern Prov- especially women, the opportunity to apply Jaffna. ince C V Wigneswaran where he expressed for short-term studies or research in Canada. In Colombo, Minister Balakrishnan Singapore’s support for Sri Lanka’s development Scholarships will be awarded in fields that called on President Maithripala Sirisena and and national reconciliation process. He also contribute to ASEAN’s efforts to narrow the de- was hosted to dinner by Prime Minister Ranil participated in a book donation ceremony from velopment gap and reduce poverty in Southeast Wickremesinghe (pictured above). Minister the Singapore National Library Board to the Asia, such as climate-smart agriculture, renew- Balakrishnan met Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaffna Public Library and the launch of a Lee able energy, public financial management, and Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Megapolis Foundation-SingHealth Orthopaedic Develop- sexual and reproductive health and rights of and Western Development Champika Ran- ment Programme at the University of Jaffna. women and girls. COMMUNIQUÉ Global Ceylon Tea Party n 6th July 2017 to mark the 150th An- niversary of Ceylon Tea, a 24-hour long global tea party was hosted by Sri Lanka’s ODiplomatic Missions around the world. Starting in Fiji and spreading across every time zone, starting sharp at five in the evening at each of the 50 or so countries taking part. Tea is Sri Lanka’s most important agricul- tural commodity, with Ceylon Tea being one of the top exporters of the nation. The tea industry has played a vital role in shaping not only the economic, but cultural and social identities of the country as well, so such a grand celebration was definitely in order. The Sri Lankan embassy here organized the Singaporean segment of the record-breaking tea party, inviting members of the Singapore com- munity to take part in the celebrations. The host, HE Mr Nimal Weeratne, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Singapore, proudly recalled the humble beginnings of Ceylon Tea and its inspira- tional journey of 150 years. Guests were treated to a generous spread of Sri Lankan delicacies but the star of the evening was, of course, the piping hot cups of freshly- brewed Ceylon Tea of every flavour imaginable, which put a smile on everyone’s faces 2 IN Diplomacy Issue 33 11 August 2017 PM Lee Visit to Germany and G20 Summit rime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was on roundtable discussions with business leaders a working visit to Germany from 6 to 11 from top German Multinational Corporations, July 2017 at the invitation of Her Excel- Mittelstand and World Market Leaders. He was Plency Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal the Guest-of-Honour at the Certificate Pre- Republic of Germany. PM Lee visited Berlin sentation Ceremony for the newly-appointed and Hamburg (to attend the G20 Leaders’ Sum- Singapore Economic Ambassadors for mit) and Munich. the Mittelstand, and at Siemens’ launch of In Berlin, PM Lee was hosted to lunch by their Singapore Digitalisation Hub. Prime Chancellor Merkel where they discussed ways Minister Lee also attended a National Day to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, Reception with the Singapore Community as well as regional and international issues of while he was there. mutual interest. Prime Minister Lee was accompanied by In Hamburg, PM Lee participated in the Mrs Lee, Minister for Foreign Affairs Viv- G20 Leaders’ Summit discussions on global ian Balakrishnan, Minister for Finance Heng economic growth, trade and finance, digitalisa- Swee Keat, as well as senior officials from the tion and jobs, as well as other global challenges Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign such as climate change and public health. The Affairs, Ministry of Finance, the Economic PM Lee Hsien Loong with Chancellor Merkel Prime Minister also had bilateral meetings with Development Board and Monetary Authority (Photo source: Ministry of Communications and other leaders on the sidelines of the Summit. of Singapore. Information / Kenji Soon) In Munich, Prime Minister Lee had EVENT Colombia National Day 20 July 2017 Joyful Announcement at Colombia National Day Reception HE Mauricio Baquero Parado, Charge d Affairs to the Republic of Singapore shared with joy “The oldest internal conflict in Latin America has come to an end. After almost five years of negotiations, the Colombian Government and the FARC signed a Peace Agreement”. The Colombian National Day was celebrat- … Peace summons us all.” Ambassador Parado ed on July 20th at Park Royal Hotel where Mr who is in his third year in Singapore said the Amrin Amin, Singapore’s Parliamentary Secre- Colombian Embassy was established in 1982 tary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of and next December will be its thirty-fifth An- Health was the guest of Honour. Also attending niversary and that the City-State is a model of were Members of Parliament Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and Mr Murali Pillai. sustainable development, economic growth, In his welcome address marking the 207th productivity and innovation. Colombia too has Anniversary of Columbia’s independence, he a very attractive business environment, with a said this has been a very positive year for the competitive legal framework and it is well in- country as well as a very productive one in its terconnected to the world economy.