SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be hosted by United States President Barack Obama at a state dinner at the White House in August, in the first official visit to the US by a Singaporean Prime Minister in 31 years. 

The visit will mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the US. 

The last official visit to the US by a Singaporean Prime Minister was made by the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who was hosted by the late Ronald Reagan in 1985.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (June 1), the White House said the bilateral relationship between Singapore and the US has “served as an anchor for the US rebalance to Asia”. 

“As partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, the Counter-Isil (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) coalition, and the Paris Climate agreement, the two leaders will discuss how our relationship can continue to address international challenges and advance a rules-based order for the Asia-Pacific,” the White House said. 

In a post on social media site Facebook on Thursday, PM Lee said Singapore has a very good relationship with the US. 

“I look forward to the visit. It will mark the progress we have made, especially with this administration. It will also be a chance to see how we can build on our friendship beyond the November US elections.”

The White House also noted that cooperation between Singapore and the US has meant there are more than 3,500 US companies with a presence in Singapore, strong security ties, and “increased exchanges of college students”.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said Singapore was honoured by Mr Obama’s invitation.

“PM Lee’s visit will affirm the close and long-standing relationship between our two countries as well as our regional partnership, which is underpinned by our shared strategic values and wide-ranging cooperation,” the spokesperson said.

Apart from the 1985 visit, Singapore has been hosted by the White House for two other official visits. 

The first was in 1973, when the late Mr Lee was hosted by the late Richard Nixon, who was then the US President.

The late Mr Lee was hosted to another state dinner in 1975 by Mr Nixon’s successor, the late Gerald Ford.

US state dinners are typically lavish, glittering affairs, often attended by a mix of political heavyweights and celebrities. 

For example, attendees of the 1975 dinner included actor Alan Alda of popular television series MASH, jewellery designer Elsa Peretti of Tiffany & Co and golfer Arnold Palmer. 

In 1985, guests included then US Vice-President George H W Bush, actor Sylvester Stallone and billionaire Warren Buffett.

Full statement from the White House below: