Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore is visiting the United States today through July 16. It is his first trip to the United States since he took office last August. Lee will visit New York, Washington and Las Vegas.
In Las Vegas, Lee will meet supervisors of major casino resorts. Singapore just lifted a ban on casinos, building two resorts that include casinos. Singapore is considering proposals from major casino operators, including American ones, before making deciding. Before the end of this year, Singapore will make its decision on the issue.
In Washington, Lee will meet President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Treasury Secretary John Snow. Loong is also expected to meet with National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, National Intelligence Director John Negroponte, Congress members, and American businessmen. Loong’s trip will be escorted by Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Foreign Minister George Yeo, Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean and National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan.
Loong's visit is to center around defense cooperation, counterterrorism and economic cooperation, but also on their casino issues. Many of the allied issues have already been sealed between the two countries. Loong’s trip is supposed to be something of business (politics) mixed with pleasure (gambling). |
