Toast by PM Lee Hsien Loong at the official dinner hosted in honour of His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois Von Und Zu Liechtenstein, Crown Prince of the Principality of Liechtenstein

Your Serene Highness Prince Alois of Liechtenstein

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

1.     It is my pleasure to welcome Your Serene Highness and your delegation back to Singapore. We are honoured that Your Serene Highness is visiting Singapore again less than three years since your last visit.

2.   Singapore and Liechtenstein share many similarities. We are both small countries, surrounded by much larger neighbours. We have limited natural resources, but have developed vibrant economies and financial services sectors by creating pro-business environments. Because of our strategic situations, we both strongly support open economies and free trade. We are thus natural partners in multilateral forums, such as the UN, the Forum of Small States and the Global Governance Group (3G). In fact, Liechtenstein’s Foreign Minister Dr Aurelia Frick, who is with us tonight, coined the name “Global Governance Group”. The 3G has been a useful platform for us to engage the G20 and the broader UN membership.

3.     Our bilateral cooperation is strong, even though we only established diplomatic relations in 2010. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Minister Frick signed an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement. This will boost trade and investment between our countries. I am also glad that you have brought a business delegation to Singapore. I hope they are excited about the opportunities in Asia, and see value in using Singapore as a springboard to the region.

4.     I look forward to working with Your Serene Highness to strengthen Liechtenstein-Singapore relations. We thus welcome the opening of Liechtenstein’s Consulate in Singapore and the appointment of Mr Loo Choon Chiaw as Liechtenstein’s first Honorary Consul in Singapore. This reflects Liechtenstein’s commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation, and raise the profile of Liechtenstein here.

5.     I am particularly pleased that Your Serene Highness’s visit is also to open the exhibition of “Princely Treasures from the House of Liechtenstein”. We have heard much of this fabled collection, which includes works by masters like Raphael, Rubens, and Van Dyck. The National Museum of Singapore is honoured to host the 91 masterpieces from the collection over the next few months. It marks a new milestone in our cultural cooperation, and will give Singaporeans an outstanding opportunity to appreciate the artistic and cultural heritage of Europe. Perhaps one day we can reciprocate Your Serene Highness’s generosity and share Singaporean art exhibits with the people of Liechtenstein.

Your Serene Highness

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

6.     May I now invite you all to rise and join me in a toast:

a.     To the good health and success of His Serene Highness Prince Alois of Liechtenstein; and
b.    To the enduring friendship between the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Republic of Singapore.