Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau was on a working visit to Singapore from 7th to 8th September 2023 and met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana. They discussed international developments and PM Lee congratulated Prime Minister Trudeau on the recent upgrading of ASEAN-Canada relations to a Strategic Partnership.Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong and Rishi Sunak of Britain met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi where they issued a Joint Declaration to elevate Singapore-United Kingdom relations to a Strategic Partnership which includes Economic Cooperation; Defence, Security, Intelligence and Foreign Policy Cooperation; Climate, Sustainability, Green Economy and Energy Cooperation.Malaysia’s Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited Singapore on 13th September 2023. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hosted PM Anwar and his wife, Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Dr Wan Ismail, to tea. PM Anwar spoke at the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2023 and was accompanied by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.Singapore’s Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing visited China from 10th to 13th September 2023 where he met Executive Vice President Xie Chuntao and co-chaired the 9th Singapore-China Forum on Leadership with China’s Minister Li Ganjie in Beijing. An MOU on carbon credits collaboration was also signed showcasing both countries’ commitment to addressing climate change.Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan’s National Statement at the 78th U.N. General Assembly on 18th Sept 2023 called on members to accept and respect diversity in views in a multilateral system and urgently asked for an inclusive global dialogue on AI.The Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia held its 93rd Independence Day celebrations on 21st September 2023 at the Shangri-La Hotel’s stately Island Ballroom with the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Singapore H.E. Abdullah Mohammed A. Almadhi welcoming guests including the Singapore Government’s representative to the event, Senior Minister of State Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Manpower, Mr Zaqy Mohamad.The Embassy of El Salvador in Singapore celebrated the country’s 202nd Independence Anniversary at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa on 22nd September 2023. El Salvador’s Ambassador H.E. Alfonso Valencia successfully hosted the festivities with the Guest of Honour representing the Singapore Government, Ms Rahayu Mahzum, Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Health & Ministry of Law.Singapore’s Senior Minister of State at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Development Ms Sim Ann was the Guest of Honour and Speaker at the South Africa-Singapore Women’s Roundtable on 26th September 2023 with Ms Pinky Kekana, South African Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. The Roundtable is one of the South African High Commission’s South Africa Focus Week events.The Saudi Ministry of Commerce, National Competitiveness Center, Saudi General Authority of Foreign Trade, and Singapore Business Federation (SBF) organised the Saudi-Singapore Business Forum at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on 26th September 2023 to discuss opportunities in furthering bilateral trade.
