Qatari PM to make first visit to Singapore on Nov 13

SINGAPORE - The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Qatar, His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, will make an official visit to Singapore from Nov 13 to 14, 2013 at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

This is His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah's first visit to Singapore as Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah will be accompanied by six ministers including Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Dr Khalid Bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Minister of Economy and Trade His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Minister of Finance His Excellency Ali Sherif Al Emadi, Minister of Administrative Development His Excellency Dr Issa Bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Her Excellency Dr Hessa Sultan Al Jaber, and Minister of Transport His Excellency Jassim Seif Ahmad Al Sulaiti.

There will be an official welcome ceremony for Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah at the Istana on Nov 13.

Following the welcome ceremony, Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah will call on Acting President JY Pillay, and meet separately with Prime Minister Lee and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Prime Minister Lee will host an official dinner in honour of Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah while Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security, and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean will host lunch.

Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah will visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where an orchid hybrid will be named in his honour.

On Nov 14, Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah will co-chair the 6th Qatar-Singapore High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC) meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Teo. Inaugurated in 2006, the HLJC is the key platform for high level bilateral engagement between Qatar and Singapore.

The last HLJC meeting was held in Doha from Mar 13 to 15, 2012 and was co-chaired by the Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani (in his previous capacity as Heir Apparent) and Deputy Prime Minister Teo.

spanaech@sph.com.sg