Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva paid a one-day introductory visit to Singapore on 22 June 2009.  His extremely tight schedule began with an interview, followed by a Dialogue Session with executives who are Thomson Reuters’ top clients and members of the media in Singapore at the Thomson Reuters Building at 1 Raffles Quay.  Nearly 100 guests were present at the Dialogue Session and many participated in a lively Q&A session.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva then met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after receiving a Ceremonial Welcome at the Istana.  Both sides agreed to step up both bilateral cooperation in various areas, including economic and educational cooperation.  The two leaders also agreed to forge a closer partnership to tackle emerging challenges confronting the region, particularly in the realm of ASEAN’s integration.  After lunch hosted by Prime Minister Lee, PRIME MINISTER Abhisit then called on President S.R. Nathan and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew respectively.

After the Official Programme at the Istana, Prime Minister Abhisit then met with a group of key investors and fund managers at the Ritz Carlton Hotel to discuss issues related to the political situation in Thailand and the Government’s economic policy.  The brief visit was then rounded off by a special welcoming dinner, co-hosted by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), the Pontiac Land Group, the Singapore Business Federation, Singapore Exchange Limited, together with the Royal Thai Embassy, Singapore, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

At the special welcoming dinner in honour of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by Mr. Tony Chew, Chairman of Singapore Business Federation, Mr. Hsieh Fu Hua, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Exchange Limited and Ms. Euleen Goh, Chairman of Singapore International Foundation, who are all SIIA’ advisors and represented Professor Simon Tay, Chairman of the SIIA in hosting the event.

The dinner was attended by 60 Singapore’s leading business leaders, in hope to gather deeper insights on Thailand. In his speech, Prime Minister Abhisit reaffirmed that Thailand is always open for businesses, even though the economy is currently going through a rough time. Besides attractive stimulus package to assist and help the most vulnerable and the poor in the country, Thailand is going to “invest areas related to tourism so that the service economy is able to grow”.

In terms of ASEAN’s relationship with China and other parts of Asia, Prime Minister Abhisit sees that it is neccessary that ASEAN governments cooperate closely and people are looking very closely at Asia as a role model in their recovery in the global economy.

The relevant speeches are as follows:

- Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva “Thailand at a Crossroads: How to Meet the Challenges” Hosted by Thomson Reuters, 22 June 2009, Singapore

- Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva At a Lunch Hosted in His Honour by H.E. Mr. Lee Hsien Loong Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, 22 June 2009, Istana

- Toast Speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Official Lunch Hosted in Honour of H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva on 22 June 2009, at the Istana

- Dinner Talk by H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva to the Singaporean Business Community at Ritz Carlton Hotel, Singapore, 22 June 2009

For press reports on the Official Visit to Singapore:

- Thai PM explains stimulus plans, BBC

- Thai PM Says Rates Been Cut as Far as Can Be, CNBC

- Abhisit confident Thailand's rifts can be healed, CNBC

- Thailand May Extend Shariah Law in Violence-Ridden Muslim South, Bloomberg

- Abhisit May Extend Shariah Law in Thailand's South: Video, Bloomberg

- Step up cooperation, The Straits Times

- PM reassures Singapore investors, Bangkok Post

- Thai PM meets Singapore leaders, China View

For Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore’s report on the Official Visit to Singapore by Prime Minister Abhisit, please click here.

For more information on the Dinner Dialogue event, please also visit Singapore Institute of International Affairs’s website