By Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted:
01 June 2011 2136 hrs
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong again
stressed that Singapore has not made a decision on nuclear power
but it is an option that must be studied.
He said this at a news conference on Wednesday with German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is in Singapore for a two-day
visit.
Germany had on Monday announced it would shut down its nuclear
reactors by 2022.
It is Dr Merkel's first visit to Singapore as German
Chancellor.
Mr Lee also noted that she is his first foreign visitor after he
was re-elected to Parliament, just as he was her first foreign
guest when Dr Merkel became Chancellor in 2005.
Both leaders made clear that Singapore-German relationship is an
important one for the two countries.
Singapore is Germany's main trading partner in Southeast Asia,
while German companies have long made their presence felt here,
particularly in manufacturing.
Latest figures show that bilateral trade amounted to some S$20.5
billion in 2010.
Germany is also Singapore's biggest trading partner among the EU
countries.
Both leaders agreed over the hour-long discussion to increase
cooperation in R&D and support for enterprises.
They also agreed on the importance of ASEAN and the EU ties.
Dr Merkel said: "Cooperation between the EU and ASEAN needs to be
further enhanced, needs to be further developed to the benefit of
both, because these are after all two economic regions that wield
quite considerable economic clout, and therefore lend themselves
ideally to co-operate even more in the future."
What was not on the table was nuclear energy. He said Singapore is
still exploring the option.
Prime Minister Lee said: "We need to understand it, because I think
this is something which will not go away. And even if we don't do
nuclear energy, our neighbours will do nuclear energy, and we need
to understand the implications for us."
Asked about his choice for the post of IMF chief, Mr Lee said this
would be decided on merit.
He said: "I would not say that I'm looking for an Asian candidate.
I think we want to look for the best person who can do a very
difficult job, which is crucial towards the stability of the global
monetary system."
Asked by German media about the significance of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's
retirement from the Cabinet, Prime Minister Lee said that even when
Mr Lee Kuan Yew was still in the Cabinet, decisions were already
being made by PM Lee and the younger ministers. The senior Mr Lee
would interject and express his views at times.
"What has happened is that now that he has retired, this has become
more visible, and that's all," he said.
Dr Merkel also met President SR Nathan at the Istana, as well as Mr
Lee Kuan Yew.
The German Chancellor was also hosted to a state dinner by Prime
Minister Lee. Her visit ends on Thursday.
- CNA
