President Tan and PM Lee congratulate Korea President—elect Park Geun—hye

SINGAPORE: President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have sent congratulatory letters to South Korea’s President—elect Ms Park Geun—hye.

President Tony Tan said Singapore and South Korea enjoy substantive and multi—faceted relations which are underpinned by frequent high—level exchanges, close economic cooperation and increasing people—to—people ties.

The two countries also share many common views on strategic issues in the region and on the international stage, he said in the letter.

Dr Tan said he looked forward to working closely with Ms Park to further strengthen the growing relationship between the two countries and invited her to make an early visit to Singapore to renew the close bilateral ties.

In his congratulatory letter, Prime Minister Lee said Ms Park’s victory reflected the South Korean people’s confidence in her leadership and abilities.

Mr Lee said relations between Singapore and South Korea have expanded steadily, underpinned by close economic cooperation and growing people—to—people ties.

He added that the two countries share many interests, including the importance of an open international trading system and a peaceful, nuclear—free Korean peninsula.

PM Lee also said that he looked forward to working closely with Ms Park to strengthen Singapore—Korea relations and deepen Korea’s partnership with the region through ASEAN.

— CNA/jc