Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean calls on New Zealand leaders

20 August 2008 1241 hrs (SST) 0441 hrs (GMT)

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Minister for Defence, Teo Chee Hean, met New Zealand's Defence Minister, Phil Goff, on Wednesday during Mr Teo's visit to New Zealand.

During the meeting, both ministers exchanged views on developments in the region, regional security architecture and both countries' cooperation in Afghanistan.

Apart from Mr Goff, Mr Teo also met other key ministers, including Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

Mr Teo visited the Royal New Zealand Naval Base on Tuesday.

His visit to New Zealand underscores the warm and long-standing defence relations between the two nations, according to a statement released on Wednesday by Singapore's Ministry of Defence.

Defence Minister Teo is in New Zealand until Friday.

- CNA/yb