Rt Hon John Key
Prime Minister
5 October 2012
PM welcomes visit of Singapore PM
Prime Minister John Key will host Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong when he visits New Zealand next week.
This is the second visit to New Zealand by Mr Lee since becoming Prime Minister in 2004. Mr Lee also hosted Mr Key when
he visited Singapore in April.
Mr Key says New Zealand’s relationship with Singapore is a deep and enduring one, and this visit underscores those close
ties.
“Our two countries share common views on many of the issues that confront us regionally and globally. I look forward to
having constructive discussions with Prime Minister Lee.
“New Zealand and Singapore share a long history of education and defence cooperation.
“Singapore has also cemented its position as a key regional hub and gateway into Asia, which is particularly important
for New Zealand companies.
“The Closer Economic Partnership agreement between New Zealand and Singapore is one of our most comprehensive. This has
resulted in an impressive increase in trade between our two countries, and we have built on this with the P4 agreement
and our on-going collaboration towards the Trans Pacific Partnership.
“This visit provides an ideal opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s close and valued friendship with Singapore and we
continue to strengthen our cooperation in a broad range of areas, including science and innovation, where strong
collaborative relationships have been developed,” says Mr Key.
Mr Lee arrives in Auckland on Sunday 7 October for his three-day visit, where he will meet the Singaporean community and
senior business leaders before travelling to Wellington to meet Mr Key.