External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna arrived here on Tuesday on a four-day visit. He will call on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, besides meeting other leaders.
India's High Commissioner to Singapore T.C.A. Raghavan said the visit came in the context of “regular high-level consultations” between the two countries. Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and also Minister Mentor recently travelled to India.
Asked whether such consultations were a prelude to some form of strategic equation, with particular reference to maritime security along the Straits of Malacca, Dr. Raghavan said there was a defence cooperation agreement between the two countries. A high-level visit here by an Indian leader at this stage was on the cards in the normal course.
Mr. Krishna is expected to visit the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) here on Friday. ISEAS Director K. Kesavapany will brief him on the genesis and role of the centre.
This is considered important as India is taking steps to set up an international university at Nalanda to catalyse modern-day academic exchanges as a sequel to those fostered by the ancient institution at the same place.