Trump accepts invitation to visit Singapore in 2018
Singapore and US leaders reaffirm 'robust and enduring partnership' over the last half-century
Washington
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he had a wide-ranging exchange with US President Trump at their meeting in the White House on Monday (Tuesday morning, Singapore time), with the two leaders reaffirming the "robust and enduring partnership" between their countries over the last 51 years.
"It is a deep and wide relationship, with substantial cooperation in the economic, defence and security spheres. We discussed what more we could do to take it forward," said Mr Lee.
He revealed that he invited Mr Trump to visit Singapore at the earliest opportunity, and said he was glad that the US leader had accepted the invitation.
The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that Mr Trump will visit Singapore next year.
Mr Lee noted that on the economic front, the US is an important partner for many countries in Asia, just as Asia as a whole is an important economic partner for the US.
"Singapore is a small country (of) just 5.5 million, but we have sizeable investments and trade with the US, which continue to grow," he added.
Singapore is the second largest Asian investor in the US, with over US$70 billion in stock investments. Total trade in goods and services amounted to more than US$68 billion last year.
The US has consistently run a trade surplus with Singapore, which stood at over US$18 billion last year.
The US also exported more than US$43 billion a year in goods and services to Singapore.
This translates to every Singaporean buying US$7,500 worth of American goods and services yearly - from iPhones and pharmaceutical products to tyres and golf clubs and financial and consultancy services.
Mr Lee said he recently realised that his New Balance shoes were made in the US, probably from the New England region.
Mr Trump said both the US and Singapore share a belief in rule of law and "understand the unmatched power of private enterprise to uplift the human condition".
He added: "The US-Singapore relationship has made both of our people far more prosperous and secure, and our values have made us long-standing friends. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful and loyal partner."
On Monday, after their four-eye meeting in the Oval Office, Mr Trump hosted a working luncheon for Mr Lee with various Cabinet Secretaries and key White House officials.
Separately, Mr Lee met US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, during which they reaffirmed the strong and mutually beneficial trade and investment linkages between Singapore and the US, and the importance of continued US economic engagement of the Asia-Pacific. THE STRAITS TIMES
