Lawrence Wong makes first visit to Australia and New Zealand as prime minister

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is making his first official visit to Australia and New Zealand since taking office last year.

In a statement on Monday (Oct 6), the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Mr Wong will make introductory visits to Australia from Monday to Thursday, and to New Zealand from Thursday to Saturday.

The trip coincides with the 60th anniversary of Singapore’s diplomatic relations with both countries. According to the PMO, the visit will “reaffirm the excellent state of bilateral ties” between Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Wong, who is also the finance minister, will visit Canberra and Sydney while in Australia, and Auckland while in New Zealand, the PMO added.

In Canberra, Australia’s capital, Mr Wong will be hosted to dinner by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, before attending an official welcome ceremony at Parliament House.

He will attend the 10th Singapore-Australia Leaders’ Meeting with Mr Albanese, and both sides will sign a joint declaration to launch the upgraded Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP 2.0).

Mr Wong will also call on Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn and meet Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley, the PMO said.

In Auckland, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will host Mr Wong to dinner. Mr Wong will also attend an official welcome ceremony at Government House, followed by a delegation meeting with Mr Luxon.

Both countries will then sign the Joint Vision Statement to launch the Singapore-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and hold a joint press conference.

During his visit, Mr Wong will lay wreaths at the Australian War Memorial and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. He will also meet Singaporeans at receptions in Canberra and Auckland to mark Singapore’s 60th year of independence.

Mr Wong will be accompanied by his wife, as well as Coordinating Minister for Public Service and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Members of Parliament Nadia Ahmad Samdin and Victor Lye, and other officials.

Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Tan See Leng will join Mr Wong for the Australia leg of the visit, while Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu will accompany him in New Zealand.

During Mr Wong’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong will be acting prime minister from Oct 6 to 8, while Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam will serve as acting prime minister from Oct 9 to 11.