PM Lee visits US, likely to attend official meeting with Obama and other leaders

PM Lee will be greeted by a formal arrival ceremony at the White House

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, along with other delegates, leaves for United State to attend an official meeting with President Barack Obama, the first time in 31 years of Singapore's history.

The visit is to affirm Singapore's close and longstanding partnership with the US, said the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday.

PM Lee will be greeted by a formal arrival ceremony at the White House which will be followed by a close meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office

Moreover, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will be hosting a state dinner for the visiting prime minister and his wife.

During the visit, the prime minister is likely to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, and speak at a reception jointly hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-ASEAN Business Council.

PM Lee is also expected to meet with other US leaders, including Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan, Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter in Pentagon. He will be visiting Singapore Embassy and meet with Singaporeans based in the US.

It has been 31 years since a US president invited a Singapore leader, the last time being in 1985 when the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was hosted by US President Ronald Reagan.

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