United States President Donald Trump greeted visiting Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the White House on Monday (Oct 23), where both leaders held talks in the Oval Office for the first time.

Mr Lee, who is on a six-day official working visit to Washington, last met Mr Trump in July on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany.

In his opening remarks in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said the bilateral relationship between Singapore and the US over the years "has been very good, but it's never been closer than now."

Mr Lee thanked Mr Trump for the warm welcome, adding: "I'm very happy to be here with you and to be here at a time when our relations are prospering.

"And we look forward to taking them forward, deepening them, and strengthening them for many years to come, and starting with this administration."

Following their meeting in the Oval Office, both leaders witnessed the signing of a deal between Singapore Airlines and Boeing for the national carrier to buy 39 new planes. The deal, worth US$13.8 billion (S$18.7 billion), will create 70,000 jobs in the US.

"We do a lot of business with Singapore. The relationship now is at its highest point and it will continue," Mr Trump said after the signing of the deal.

Mr Lee was also hosted by the American leader to a bilateral working lunch together with Vice President Mike Pence, Cabinet Secretaries and key White House officials.

Both leaders also spoke from the Rose Garden of the White House, where they reaffirmed bilateral ties and pledged further cooperation on several fronts.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by NEWS DESK

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