Official Visit to the US - Jul-Aug 2016

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made an official visit to the United States from 31 July to 5 August 2016 at the invitation of President Barack Obama. The visit affirmed Singapore’s close and longstanding partnership with the United States and provided an opportunity to renew and expand bilateral cooperation. It coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and is the first official visit to the United States by a Singapore Prime Minister since 1985.

PM Lee was welcomed by President Obama at an official arrival ceremony at the White House South Lawn, followed by a meeting in the Oval Office. In the evening, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted Prime Minister Lee and Mrs Lee to a State Dinner at the White House. Vice President Joseph Biden, with his wife Dr Jill Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry, also hosted a State Luncheon for PM Lee and Mrs Lee at the Department of State.

During the visit, Prime Minister Lee laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by a visit to the Pentagon where was he hosted to lunch by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. Prime Minister Lee had separate meetings with Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan. PM Lee also spoke at a reception jointly hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-ASEAN Business Council, and met with Singaporeans at a National Day reception at the Singapore Embassy in Washington, DC.

(MCI Photos by Chwee and Terence Tan)