Trump thanks PM Lee for Singapore's hospitality

Singapore

TWO of the world's most recognisable leaders - US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un - are in Singapore to meet each other for the very first time on Tuesday, and they spent the eve of their historic summit largely out of the public eye.

Over a meal of lobster bisque and beef tenderloin at the Istana, Mr Trump expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for Singapore's efforts to host the summit.

"We appreciate your hospitality and professionalism and your friendship. Thank you very much," Mr Trump told Mr Lee at the start of their working lunch.

Among those present from the US delegation were Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.

Sitting on the opposite side of the long table with Mr Lee were Cabinet members including Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, Communications and Information Minister S Iswaran, and Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam.

Mr Trump, who is in Singapore for the first time since he took office in January 2017, even had an early birthday celebration when he was surprised with a cake during the lunch. He turns 72 on Thursday.

In a Facebook post, Mr Lee said he took the opportunity to catch up with Mr Trump and discuss developments in the region. They had a four-eye meeting before the lunch.

"I wished him all the best for (Tuesday's) summit, which we hope will be a first step on the path to peace. Looking forward to a positive outcome," he wrote.

A statement from Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) said that Mr Trump had also accepted an invitation from President Halimah Yacob to make a state visit to Singapore in November.

This is in conjunction with the Asean-US Summit and the East Asian Summit that Singapore will be hosting that month. Singapore currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) bloc.

The MFA statement said Mr Trump expressed the US's continued commitment to engage the region, as well as his support for Singapore's chairmanship of Asean.

After leaving the Istana, Mr Trump returned to the Shangri-la Hotel where he interacted with the staff of the US Embassy in Singapore and their families.

"I wanted to thank you for every single day, you strengthen our relationships, promote our prosperity, and defend and protect the American people. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. You are spectacular people," said Mr Trump at the event.

According to the White House, Mr Trump is scheduled to depart Singapore at 7pm on Tuesday, instead of Wednesday morning as originally planned. As for Mr Kim, who is staying at the St Regis Hotel on Tanglin Road, he took the opportunity to go on a city tour in the evening. His motorcade made its way to a number of locations, including Gardens By The Bay and the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.

In an interview with CNN on Monday, PM Lee described Mr Kim as a "confident, young leader" who wants to go on a new path.

They met at the Istana for the first time on Sunday evening, shortly after Mr Kim's arrival at Changi Airport.

"What he's prepared to deal and how an agreement can be worked out, that's a complicated matter. He has an intention to do something and that's why he's meeting Donald Trump," said Mr Lee.

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