Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has begun a visit to Singapore. On Thursday morning local time he met President Sellapan Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien. They discussed the economic crisis, water management and European-Asian relations.
During a visit to the Marina Barrage Dam, which has been developed and built by a number of Dutch companies, the Dutch prime minister announced that a street in Singapore would be named after Dutchman Albert Winsemius. Mr Winsemius was an important advisor to the authorities Singapore in the 1960s.
Later in the day Mr Balkenende visited Singapore's armed forces. The Singaporean army has recently deployed a radar system in Uruzgan province, providing the Dutch-manned international NATO base with early warning against incoming rockets.
The prime minister is accompanied by Economic Affairs Minister Maria van der Hoeven and Education Minister Ronald Plasterk and members of the Innovation Platform.
On Saturday, they will travel on to Japan, where 400 years of trade relations with the Netherlands is being celebrated this year.
ANP
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