Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Singapore on Tuesday (Nov 13) for his first-ever state visit, will be hosted to a state banquet at the Istana.
He earlier attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the Russian Cultural Centre that will also house a Russian Orthodox Church.
Mr Putin's two-day state visit comes as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties between Singapore and Russia.
The last top Russian leader to visit Singapore was then Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in 2009.
Cultural, education and scientific ties between the two nations have since grown strongly. Bilateral trade stood at S$7.4 billion in 2017, up from S$1.9 billion in 2007.
There are 690 Russian companies in Singapore as of 2017. Russia is Singapore's 24th largest trading partner.
Mr Putin was on Tuesday officially welcomed at the Istana, and he later called on President Halimah Yacob.
Mr Putin and Madam Halimah in the late afternoon co-officiated the groundbreaking ceremony of the new cultural centre in Rangoon Road, near Little India.
The state banquet in Mr Putin's honour will be hosted by President Halimah and her husband Mr Mohamad Abdullah Alhabshee.
During this state visit, Mr Putin will also be attending the 3rd Asean-Russian Summit and the 13th East Asia Summit.
Looking at this visit, Seasia is triggered to know to which other countries in Southeast Asia that this President has been to during his presidency so far?
Curious enough. Herewith are the full details:
Source : The Straits Times, Wikipedia
