Lee Hsien Loong in Europe from Feb 1 to 6

On 50th anniversary of Singapore’s diplomatic relations with Germany.

Lee Hsien Loong  visiting Europe from Feb 1 to 6 for official visits to Germany and Spain.
Mr Lee to reaffirm Singapore’s friendly ties with both countries and to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Mr Lee start visit to Dresden – the capital of the federal state of Saxony.Lee to meet Saxony’s Minister-President Stanislaw Tillich.
Later then meet German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
Mr Lee will also meet Vice Federal Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schauble.

Singapore bilateral trade with Germany stood at S$20 billion in 2014.

On Feb 5,

Mr Lee will be in Madrid to meet King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.This is PM  first official visit to Spain. He is also scheduled to meet Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo and Minister of Economy and Competitiveness Luis de Guindos. Singapore’s bilateral trade with Spain stood at S$2 billion in 2014.

Mr Lee is accompanied by his wife, Mrs Lee, Second Trade and Industry Minister S Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah, Minister of State for National Development and Defence Maliki Osman, and Member of Parliament Denise Phua.

The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) will also have a presence during the visit, with a delegation of more than 20 members. Germany and Spain are looking to Asia for opportunities and the SBF is keen on getting both countries to look directly to Singapore.

In Mr Lee’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean will be Acting Prime Minister from Feb 1 to 7.