Activities of Secretary-General in Singapore, 27-30 August

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by Madam Ban Soon‑taek, left New York on Saturday, 27 September, for Singapore, where he arrived on Monday, 29 August, for an official visit.

Upon arrival, the Secretary-General participated in a lunch hosted by Goh Chok Tong, Emeritus Senior Minister of Singapore, and then met with Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the country.

This meeting was followed by the Secretary-General delivering the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership Lecture at Singapore Management University where he exchanged views with students on the state of world affairs and the role of the United Nations. (See Press Release SG/SM/18009)

On Tuesday, 30 August, the Secretary-General visited the Marina Barrage and Gardens by the Bay of Singapore, before attending a dialogue session with students of the National University of Singapore.

He then met with Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, before preparing for the Conferral Ceremony of an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the National University of Singapore by Tony Tan Keng Yam, President of Singapore.  In his speech, he said that this distinction not only paid tribute to him, but to all those who bring the United Nations founding Charter to life.  (See Press Release SG/SM/18011)

The Secretary-General left Singapore in the afternoon for Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, where he arrived in the evening of 30 August.