Singapore (VNA) –Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong began his six-day visit to the US onOctober 21, aiming to strengthen the bilateral partnership, according toSingapore media.
The prime minister is scheduled tomeet with US President Donald Trump on October 23.
He will also meet with US Secretaryof the Treasury Steve Mnuchin, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, NationalSecurity Advisor McMaster, and Director of the National Economic Council GaryCohn.
A deal to buy Boeing aircraft ishoped to be signed on this occasion.
Singapore is a key economic andsecurity partner of the US in Asia. Trade and investment activities ofSingapore generate 250,000 jobs in the US while bilateral trade with the USaccounts for 20 percent of Singapore’s gross domestic product GDP). Singaporeis also the sole Asian partner contributing personnel and military equipmentfor the US-led coalition against the self-claimed Islamic State (IS).
Singapore will take over the ASEANChairmanship in 2018, which is also viewed as an important transitional year ofthe negotiation between ASEAN and China on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea(COC).-VNA