MFA Press Statement: Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's Meetings in Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic, 6 April 2017

     Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is making his introductory visit to Argentina from 5 to 7 April 2017.  Minister Balakrishnan called on President Mauricio Macri on 6 April at the historic Casa Rosada.  President Macri and Minister Balakrishnan discussed new areas for bilateral cooperation, including food security, energy, and technology.  President Macri expressed an interest in using Singapore as a hub to strengthen links between Latin America and Southeast Asia. 

     Minister Balakrishnan had a productive private meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Susana Malcorra before the two Ministers led their delegations in bilateral talks.  Minister Malcorra also hosted Minister Balakrishnan and the Singapore delegation to a working lunch.  The Ministers welcomed the increased engagement in Singapore-Argentina relations, and explored opportunities in deepening trade and investment, education and cultural cooperation, people-to-people linkages, and joint third-country training.  Minister Balakrishnan welcomed Minister Malcorra’s forthcoming visit to Singapore for the official opening of the Argentine Embassy in Singapore.  The Ministers also welcomed the appointment of Singapore’s new Honorary Consul-General in Buenos Aires, Mr Nicolas Caputo.  The Ministers discussed cooperation between Singapore and Argentina at the multilateral and regional levels, and agreed that Argentina, as Pro Tempore President of Mercosur, host of the WTO Ministerial Conference in 2017 and G20 President in 2018, and Singapore as the ASEAN Chairman in 2018, should work together closely.  The Ministers also exchanged views on developments in Latin America and Asia.  The Joint Statement of Minister Balakrishnan and Minister Malcorra’s meetings is attached at Annex. 

     Minister Balakrishnan delivered a speech to the diplomatic, academic, and business communities, and media representatives at the Argentine Council for International Relations, the leading think-tank in Argentina, on “Building Links between Latin America and Asia in an Uncertain World”.

     On 7 April, Minister Balakrishnan is scheduled to meet Minister of the Treasury Nicolas Dujovne and Minister of Modernisation Andres Horacio Ibarra.  He will also meet the Foreign Ministers of Mercosur who are in Buenos Aires to attend the first Mercosur-Pacific Alliance Ministerial Meeting.  Minister Balakrishnan will have a separate bilateral meeting with Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Aloysio Nunez Ferreira. 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

7 APRIL 2017

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Annex

VISIT OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF SINGAPORE TO ARGENTINA

ARGENTINA – SINGAPORE JOINT STATEMENT

Buenos Aires, 6 April 2017

1     The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, is on official visit to the Argentine Republic from 5 to 7 April 2017.  This is Minister Balakrishnan’s first visit as Foreign Minister to Latin America, and the first bilateral visit by a Singapore Foreign Minister to Argentina.  Minister Balakrishnan called on His Excellency Mauricio Macri, President of the Argentine Republic, and held a working meeting with Minister Malcorra.  Mr. Balakrishnan will also hold working meetings with the Minister of Modernization of the Argentine Republic, Andrés Horacio Ibarra, and the Minister of Treasury, Nicolás Dujovne.  He will also deliver a speech on “Building links between Latin America and Asia in an Uncertain World” at the Argentine Council on Foreign Relations (CARI).

2     During their meeting, Minister Malcorra and Minister Balakrishnan affirmed the warm and longstanding friendship between Argentina and Singapore, and underscored both countries’ commitment to promote and strengthen bilateral ties. The Ministers welcomed the re-opening of the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Singapore and the appointment of a new Honorary Consul-General of Singapore in Argentina as important steps in this regard. The Ministers further expressed their commitment to strengthen ties in terms of commerce and investment, and their interest to expand and deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as educational and cultural exchanges, people-to-people ties, and joint technical training.  In this connection, Minister Balakrishnan extended an invitation to Argentina to participate in the Latin Asia Business Forum to be held in Singapore on 29 September 2017.

3     Recognising the importance of fostering closer cooperation between their respective regions, the Ministers welcomed Argentina’s interest in deepening its presence in Southeast Asia, and Singapore’s interest in stepping up its engagement of Latin America.  The Ministers also welcomed Argentina’s interest in acceding to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and discussed ways to promote dialogue and cooperation between ASEAN and the Mercado Común del Sur (Mercosur).  In this regard, at Minister Malcorra’s invitation, Minister Balakrishnan will also be meeting Mercosur Foreign Ministers, His Excellency Aloysio Nunes Ferreira of Brazil, His Excellency Eladio Loizaga of Paraguay and His Excellency Rodolfo Nin Novoa of Uruguay during his visit to discuss the prospects for greater engagement between Singapore, Mercosur and ASEAN.

4     Minister Malcorra and Minister Balakrishnan exchanged views on global developments and expressed satisfaction at the good coordination between Argentina and Singapore at the international level and at the international forums, and on the importance of continued consultation on issues of common interest. In this regard, the Ministers also discussed the opportunities presented by Argentina’s pro tempore Presidency of Mercosur and 2018 Presidency of the G20, and Singapore’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2018.

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Meeting between President of the Argentine Republic Mauricio Macri and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, 6 April 2017. [Photo credit: MFA, Singapore]

Meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Susana Malcorra and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, 6 April 2017. [Photo credit: MFA, Singapore]

Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan speaking at the Argentine Council for International Relations, 6 April 2017. [Photo credit: MFA, Singapore]