Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Sunday (Jun 28) began his two-day official visit in Singapore, which came as Singapore celebrates its Golden Jubilee and 50 years of bilateral relations with Australia this year.
On Sunday evening, Mr Abbott and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong presided over a special barbecue at Bishan Park.
The barbecue event was part of the 50 Bridges programme – an arts and community engagement programme meant to celebrate Singapore’s Golden Jubilee, as well as 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic and Australia.
Fifty Aussie barbecues involving 10,000 beef and lamb steaks were set up across 22 locations in Singapore. About 1,000 people turned up at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.
“I think it’s a great way that the Australians and Singaporeans mix together and we have barbecue beef from Australia, it’s great,” said Mr Francis Tan, a Bishan resident.
Ms Cherly Anne, a fellow Bishan resident, added: “It’s fantastic, it’s a really a good way for Singaporeans and Australians to bond and also a good way to celebrate SG50.”
Mr Lee and Mr Abbott also joined in the festivities. They had earlier gone on a walk in the park where they met some residents.
Mr Abbott then planted a tree – the “Melaleuca cajuputi” – a tree which is native to Singapore and can be found in Australia too. The two prime ministers then made their way to the barbecue area where they also barbecued some steaks.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (centre R) and Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott (centre L) grill meat over a barbecue during a visit to Bishan Park in Singapore on Jun 28, 2015. (Photo: AFP/Mohd Fyrol)
Mr Abbott is on his first official visit at the invitation of Mr Lee. Australia was one of the first countries to recognise Singapore’s independence in 1965. Since then, relations between the two nations have grown in areas such as security as well as arts and culture.
Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Ministry says the visit underscores the deep and longstanding ties between the two countries.
The highlight of the visit will be signing of the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by the two prime ministers. It will see the two countries cooperating more closely across sectors such as economic, foreign affairs, defence and security and people-to-people ties.
An official welcome ceremony will be held for Mr Abbott in Monday. He will also visit the Singapore Botanical Gardens, where an orchid hybrid will be named in honour of the relationship between both countries.
Mr Abbott will also deliver the 35th Singapore Lecture which addresses the issue of strengthening security in the region.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (R) and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (L) don balloon hats as they visit Bishan Park in Singapore, Jun 28, 2015. (Photo: AP/Joseph Nair)
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
