President Tharman Shanmugaratnam's visit commemorates the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Singapore. - ST LIANG
MANILA: President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will visit the Philippines from Aug 15 to 17 at the invitation of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
His visit commemorates the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Singapore, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Wednesday (Aug 14).
In Manila, Tharman will call on Marcos at Malacanang Palace, and be hosted to a state banquet in his honour.
He will also be briefed by Filipino officials on the country’s plans for sustainable use of water and other natural assets, as well as possible areas for bilateral cooperation.
The two presidents will witness the signing of memorandums of understanding between Singapore and the Philippines on healthcare workers and carbon credits.
Tharman will visit the Asean Centre for Biodiversity and International Rice Research Institute in Laguna, a province south-east of Manila, where he will be briefed on efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
In the Philippine capital, he will meet business leaders to discuss economic challenges facing the region, attend the Singapore Red Cross’ 75th anniversary exhibition, and interact with the Singaporean community at a National Day reception.
Tharman will be accompanied on the visit by his spouse, Jane Ittogi, as well as Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung, and MPs Henry Kwek and Mariam Jaafar.
They will be joined by officials from the President’s Office, MFA, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Health, and the Economic Development Board.
Following his trip to the Philippines, the President will head to Geneva and Paris.
While in Switzerland from Aug 20 to 22, he will attend meetings of the World Economic Forum Board of Trustees and International Business Council.
He will also meet senior business and philanthropic leaders from various countries, as well as overseas Singaporeans based in Switzerland at a National Day reception.
While in Paris on Aug 23, he will meet and lend support to the Singapore athletes participating in the Paralympic Games, which runs from Aug 28 to Sept 4.
During Tharman’s absence, Council of Presidential Advisers chairman Eddie Teo will exercise the functions of the Office of the President. - The Straits Times/ANN
