Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to attend G20 meeting

SINGAPORE — Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will attend the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bonn, Germany from Thursday to Friday (Feb 16-17).

He will be accompanied by officials from the foreign ministry, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday evening (Feb 15).

“The meeting will discuss how countries can cooperate more effectively to address key global challenges, including sustainable development, sustaining peace, and assisting Africa in its development,” said the statement.

Singapore is not a member of the G20, a grouping that comprises the world’s 20 largest developed and developing economies.

The Republic has, however, been invited to participate in the G20 summits and related processes in 2010, 2011 and 2013 to 2016, as a representative of the Global Governance Group (3G).

The 3G, made up of 30 smaller and medium sized members of the United Nations, including Singapore, aims to promote greater transparency and inclusivity in the G20 process.

At last year’s G20 Summit, which was held in Hangzhou, the meeting focussed on innovative growth, structural changes, inclusiveness in growth, as well as a digital economy, among other issues.