PM Lawrence Wong's Historic 5-Day Africa Trip: G20 Summit & Ethiopia Visit

Historic Diplomatic Journey

• 🚀 Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is undertaking a five-day diplomatic trip to Africa, visiting South Africa and Ethiopia.
• 💡 This marks PM Wong's first bilateral visit to Africa since taking office, signifying an expansion of Singapore's diplomatic reach.

G20 Summit Engagement

• 🌍 PM Wong will attend the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, from November 21st to 23rd, by invitation from President Cyril Ramaphosa.
• ✅ Singapore has been consistently invited to the G20 summit since 2010, despite not being a member, highlighting its growing diplomatic influence.
• 💬 Discussions at the summit will focus on promoting global growth, shaping a fair future, and addressing challenges like AI, climate change, inequality, and geopolitical instability.

Official Visit to Ethiopia

• ✈️ Following the G20, PM Wong will make an official visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from November 23rd to 25th, at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
• 🤝 The visit includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the Ottawa Victory Memorial Monument and a ceremonial welcome at the National Palace.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

• ✍️ PM Wong and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali will hold a joint press conference and witness the signing of bilateral Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs).
• 🌱 A tree planting ceremony will emphasize the importance of sustainable development.
• 🔬 PM Wong will meet with Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to discuss partnerships.
• 🏭 He will also visit Repi Wilmar, a Singapore-owned firm in Ethiopia, showcasing Singapore's business presence.

Singapore's Global Commitment

• 🌐 The trip, accompanied by his wife and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, underscores Singapore's commitment to building strong diplomatic ties and exploring new horizons.
• 📈 Singapore aims to make its mark on the global stage as a small nation with no natural resources but significant influence.