PRIME Minister of the Republic of Armenia, HE Nikol Pashinyan, was on his first Official Visit to Singapore from 7th to 9th July 2019, at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. During his visit, Prime Minister Pashinyan called on President Halimah Yacob, PM Lee and Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan Jin. In addition, he visited the Economic Development Board and met business leaders at a roundtable organised by the Singapore Business Federation; he also visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens where an orchid was named in his honour. On his visit to the Armenian Church the Prime Minister met members of the Armenian community. He unveiled a sculpture of Vanda Miss Joaquim flowers in the First Botanic Garden at Armenian Street, which was a contribution by the Armenian community here. PM Pashinyan was accompanied by his wife, Madame Anna Hakobyan­­­­, Minister of Economy Tigran Khachatryan, Minister of High-Technological Industry Hakob Arshakyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Avet Adonts and senior government officials.

 During PM Lee’s and PM Pashiyan’s meetings, the leaders reaffirmed the warm and friendly relations between Singapore and Armenia, building on close historical ties and common interests as small states. Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Pashinyan reaffirmed their strong support for the speedy conclusion of the negotiations for the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)-Singapore Free Trade Agreement which would strengthen economic ties between the two regions as well as enhance bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Lee thanked Prime Minister Pashinyan for the progress made in the negotiations during Armenia’s current Chairmanship of the EAEU. Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Pashinyan also witnessed the exchange of one agreement and four Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) which will help strengthen bilateral ties.