Shanmugam, Kerry reaffirm Singapore-US relations

WASHINGTON — Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam and United States Secretary of State John Kerry have reaffirmed the close and longstanding relations between their countries that span the economic, political, military and socio-cultural fronts.

During their meeting at the State Department in Washington DC yesterday (May 12), they also reiterated their countries’ commitment to further strengthen cooperation, both bilaterally and regionally.

In particular, both sides welcomed the progress made under the US-Singapore Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) over the past two years in providing training for over 280 officials from ASEAN countries in the areas of ASEAN Connectivity, sustainable development and regional resilience.

A statement from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) today said Mr Shanmugam and Mr Kerry also discussed key regional and global developments.

Mr Shanmugam, who is in Washington DC on an official visit from yesterday to May 16, welcomed the strong commitment to Asia expressed by US President Barack Obama during his recent visit to Malaysia, the Philippines and Japan last month, as well as by Secretary Kerry during his past five visits to the region.

MFA said Mr Shanmugam and Mr Kerry reiterated the importance of working towards an expeditious conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

Both sides also welcomed efforts to strengthen ASEAN-US ties, through US-ASEAN Energy cooperation, of which Singapore is the country coordinator, as well as the US-Asia-Pacific Comprehensive Energy Partnership for a Shared Future (USACEP), of which both sides are in the Steering Committee.

Mr Shanmugam also met his US counterpart in his capacity as Minister for Law, Attorney General Eric Holder, at the Department of Justice.

MFA said both sides had a good exchange of views and reaffirmed their desire to strengthen legal cooperation in a constructive and mutually beneficial way.

They welcomed the upcoming Law Enforcement and Homeland Security and Safety Cooperation Dialogue (LEHSSCD) that will be taking place next month in Washington DC. CHANNEL NEWSASIA