The following is an unofficial translation of the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the official visit of the State Counsellor to Singapore.
1. At the invitation of Prime Minister of Singapore Mr Lee Hsien Loong, State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Daw Aung San Suu Kyi paid an official visit to the Republic of Singapore from 30-11-2016 to 2-12-2016 and arrived back in Yangon on 2-12-2016.
2. The State Counsellor met with businesspeople in Singapore at the Shangri-La Hotel on 30 November afternoon and clarified economic and investment policies and investment opportunities of Myanmar to them. The State Counsellor told them that the new Investment Law of Myanmar is transparent and provides more opportunities to local and foreign investors; that higher investment will create more job opportunities, one of the priorities of the government, and will generate a qualified labour force, which will contribute to the sustainable economic development of the country; that in order to achieve sustainable economic development, it is necessary for Myanmar to build an economy based on human resources as most of the current businesses in the country is based on natural resources; that internal peace and stability is essential for attracting foreign investment; and that the peace process and national reconciliation are important for Myanmar as the country has been suffering from instability, and the State Counsellor also responded to questions raised by the businesspeople.
3. At 17:30 in the evening, the State Counsellor attended welcoming ceremony held at the Istana Presidential Palace and held talks with Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong. The two leaders discussed signing of the investment treaty to promote trade and investment, update of an avoidance of double taxation agreement signed by the two countries in 1999, the start of bilateral negotiations between authorities concerned to allow a 6-month period of own stopover rights for Silk Airs to operate Singapore-Yangon-Mandalay flights to promote tourism for Myanmar, 3-year extension of the MoU on vocational training between the two countries and implementation of visa exemption starting 1st December in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Then, the State Counsellor and the delegation attended the dinner hosted in her honour by the prime minister of Singapore at the Istana Presidential Palace.
4. On 1-12-2016, the State Counsellor attended the working breakfast with Senior Minister of Singapore Mr Goh Chok Tong at the Shangri-La Hotel and held frank discussions with the senior minister on promotion of economic cooperation between the two countries, penetration of Myanmar entrepreneurs into the international market and regional and international issues. Then, the State Counsellor and the delegation attended the Orchid Naming Ceremony at the National Orchid Garden. At the ceremony, a new species of orchid was named Papilionanda Aung San Suu Kyi after the State Counsellor in accordance with the tradition of Singapore that was introduced in 1956.
5. At, 11:00, the State Counsellor paid a courtesy call on Acting President HE Mr Joseph Yuvaraj Pillay(Chairman of Presidential Advisory Council) at Istana Presidential Palace and discussed promotion of cooperation in education, health, urban development and socioeconomic development.
6. Afterwards, the State Counsellor attended the luncheon hosted in her honour by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordination Minister for National Security HE Mr Teo Chee Hean at the Shangri-La Hotel and in the afternoon, the State Counsellor and the Delegation visited the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and heard clarification on work and procedure of the bureau before raising questions on some areas she was interested in.
7. In the evening, the State Counsellor attended the opening ceremony of “Cities and Kings: Ancient Treasures from Myanmar” at the Asian Civilization Museum (ACM) and the State Coulsellor was welcomed there by Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong and the minister for Culture, Community and Youth. The museum is displaying cultural artefacts from Pyu Era, Eras of Mon Kings in lower Myanmar, Bagan Era and the Mandalay Palace until March 2017 in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
8. In the evening, the State Counsellor visited the Myanmar Embassy in Singapore and met with staff and families of the embassy and the Office of the Military Attaché (Army,Navy, AirForce). She also attended the dinner hosted by the ambassador before delivering a speech to Myanmar community in Singapore and responding to their questions frankly at the Big Box Hall in Jurong East.
9. On 2-12-2016, the State Counsellor, together with Minister for Foreign Affairs HE Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, visited the Ghim Moh Hawker Centre and Wet Market and attended the breakfast. At 13:00, the State Counsellor and the delegation left Changi Airport for Yangon International Airport and arrived in Yangon at 15:30 in the evening. Ministry of Foreign Affairs