PM Wong to visit Qatar, UAE in first trip to Middle East region since taking office

The visits will provide an opportunity for Singapore to exchange views on recent developments in the region and strengthen cooperation with both countries in areas of mutual interest, such as in energy security and economic resilience, said the PMO.

File photo of Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. (Photo: REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan)

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SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will make official visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Oct 18 to 22, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement on Saturday (Oct 17).

The trip will be his first to the Middle East region as prime minister.

“The visits will provide a timely opportunity for Singapore to exchange views with regional leaders on developments in the Middle East, reaffirm our support for dialogue and diplomacy, and strengthen cooperation with Qatar and the UAE in areas of mutual interest, particularly energy security and economic resilience,” said the PMO.

In the first leg of the trip, Mr Wong will be visiting Qatar from Oct 18 to 20, where he will call on Emir Sheikh Tamim Hamad Al Thani.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Both leaders will co-chair the ninth Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee, which is the primary platform for advancing cooperation between the two countries. Mr Wong will also meet with Qatar Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman Jassim Al Thani. The visit comes amid an ongoing Middle East conflict that has disrupted the flow of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the region to Singapore. Qatar is a key exporter of natural gas to Singapore, supplying around 25 per cent of Singapore’s total LNG imports, according to data compiled by the World Bank. Around 95 per cent of Singapore’s electricity generation is powered by imported natural gas, comprising LNG and pipeline gas from its neighbouring countries.

Both leaders will co-chair the ninth Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee, which is the primary platform for advancing cooperation between the two countries.

Mr Wong will also meet with Qatar Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman Jassim Al Thani.

The visit comes amid an ongoing Middle East conflict that has disrupted the flow of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the region to Singapore.

Qatar is a key exporter of natural gas to Singapore, supplying around 25 per cent of Singapore’s total LNG imports, according to data compiled by the World Bank.

Around 95 per cent of Singapore’s electricity generation is powered by imported natural gas, comprising LNG and pipeline gas from its neighbouring countries.

Qatar also shares a warm defence cooperation with Singapore, with Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing visiting the emirate earlier in October.

For the second part of his trip from Oct 20, Mr Wong will head to Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he will be calling on UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan.

He is also expected to meet Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council Sheikh Khaled Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan, who made an official visit to Singapore in 2024.

After that, Mr Wong will meet Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Maktoum Mohamed Rashid Al Maktoum.

Last year, Singapore and the UAE marked 40 years of diplomatic ties. Both countries elevated bilateral relations with the Singapore-UAE Comprehensive Partnership in 2019, and co-operate in various fields including defence, energy and water sustainability.

Both Qatar and the UAE have robust economic relations with Singapore. In terms of trade, they are Singapore’s third largest and largest trading partner among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries respectively.

Singapore’s delegation to both countries includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan; Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Tan See Leng; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry and PMO will also be attending the visits.

Mr Wong will also meet overseas Singaporeans at receptions in Doha and Dubai, said the PMO.

In Mr Wong's absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Trade) Gan Kim Yong will be the acting prime minister.

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总理办公室表示，此次访问将为新加坡提供机会，就该地区的最新发展交换意见，并加强与两国在共同感兴趣的领域（例如能源安全和经济韧性）的合作。

新加坡总理黄循财的资料照片。（图片：路透社/Willy Kurniawan）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：总理公署周六（10月17日）发表声明称，总理黄循财将于10月18日至22日对卡塔尔和阿拉伯联合酋长国（阿联酋）进行正式访问。

这将是他作为总理首次访问中东地区。

总理办公室表示：“此次访问将为新加坡提供一个及时的机会，与中东地区领导人就中东局势发展交换意见，重申我们对对话和外交的支持，并加强与卡塔尔和阿联酋在共同关心的领域，特别是能源安全和经济韧性方面的合作。”

此次访问的第一站，黄先生将于10月18日至20日访问卡塔尔，并拜会埃米尔谢赫·塔米姆·哈马德·阿勒萨尼。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 两国领导人将共同主持第九届卡塔尔-新加坡高级别联合委员会会议，该委员会是推进两国合作的主要平台。黄循财先生还将与卡塔尔首相兼外交大臣谢赫·穆罕默德·阿卜杜勒拉赫曼·贾西姆·阿勒萨尼会面。此次访问正值中东冲突持续之际，这场冲突扰乱了该地区向新加坡输送液化天然气（LNG）。卡塔尔是新加坡的主要天然气出口国，根据世界银行的数据，其供应量约占新加坡LNG进口总量的25%。新加坡约95%的电力来自进口天然气，包括LNG和来自邻国的管道天然气。

两国领导人将共同主持第九届卡塔尔-新加坡高级别联合委员会会议，该委员会是推进两国合作的主要平台。

黄之锋先生还将与卡塔尔首相兼外交大臣谢赫·穆罕默德·阿卜杜勒拉赫曼·贾西姆·阿勒萨尼会面。

此次访问正值中东冲突持续蔓延之际，这场冲突扰乱了液化天然气（LNG）从该地区向新加坡的输送。

根据世界银行汇编的数据，卡塔尔是新加坡的主要天然气出口国，约占新加坡液化天然气进口总量的 25%。

新加坡约 95% 的电力生产依靠进口天然气，包括来自邻国的液化天然气和管道天然气。

卡塔尔与新加坡也保持着良好的防务合作关系，新加坡公共服务统筹部长兼国防部长陈振声于 10 月初访问了卡塔尔。

黄先生此次行程的第二部分将于10月20日开始，他将前往阿联酋阿布扎比，拜访阿联酋总统兼阿布扎比酋长穆罕默德·扎耶德·阿勒纳哈扬。

他还预计将会见阿布扎比王储兼阿布扎比执行委员会主席谢赫·哈立德·穆罕默德·扎耶德·阿勒纳哈扬，后者于 2024 年对新加坡进行了正式访问。

之后，黄先生将与副总理兼财政部长、迪拜副酋长谢赫·马克图姆·穆罕默德·拉希德·阿勒马克图姆会面。

去年，新加坡和阿联酋庆祝了建交40周年。两国于2019年将双边关系提升为新加坡-阿联酋全面伙伴关系，并在国防、能源和水资源可持续发展等多个领域开展合作。

卡塔尔和阿联酋都与新加坡保持着稳固的经济关系。在贸易方面，它们分别是新加坡在海湾合作委员会成员国中的第三大和最大贸易伙伴。

新加坡访问两国的代表团成员包括外交部长维文·巴拉克里希南；能源、贸易和工业部长（能源和工业）陈诗龙；以及外交部兼内政部政务部长朱卡纳因·阿卜杜勒·拉希姆。

外交部、能源贸易工业部和总理办公室的官员也将出席访问。

总理办公室表示，黄先生还将在多哈和迪拜的招待会上会见海外新加坡人。

黄之锋先生缺席期间，副总理兼能源、贸易及工业部长（贸易）颜金勇将担任代总理。

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