It’s been a whirlwind trip to the other side of the world for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who has one more day left Washington to commemorate 50 years of formal diplomatic relations between Singapore and the US.
As he wraps up his tour and plans his return trip to the little Red Dot, we look back on his successful time there with some candid behind-the-scenes photos of the official visit, plus the State Dinner, from the White House’s Instagram and Snapchat accounts featuring their very own captions.
Hello everyone, Lee Hsien Loong (@leehsienloong) here—Singapore’s Prime Minister. I’m in DC on an official visit. We’ll be meeting President Obama and several of your Cabinet members. We are also deeply honoured to be invited to a State Dinner in the White House.
The US and Singapore enjoy a close and longstanding friendship. We cooperate in many areas, from defense to trade. Stay tuned today as the White House and I do a mutual takeover of our Instagram accounts! —LHL
It was fun to meet the crowd at the Arrival Ceremony this morning. Lots of happy faces! 🙂 (Photo by me) —LHL
Thank you America for the warm welcome this morning! It is a big honor for us to celebrate how far our peoples have come together. When I travel abroad, I try to meet Singaporeans who are living there. In the US, I have encountered our citizens all over the country. They are living, working or studying here, in big cities and small towns, contributing to their communities. It’s a good reminder that our ties are not just about government or company business, but thrive in the hearts and souls of our people. —LHL #SGUS50
Snapped this photo of Kate Kelley (Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery), Major General Bradley Becker, Sherri Becker, and Ambassador Peter Selfridge (the Chief of Protocol) after paying my respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We in Singapore honor the valor and sacrifices of US soldiers, and are grateful for their role in keeping the Asia Pacific, and the world, stable and peaceful. —LHL #SGUS50
Hello Singapore! It’s the @WhiteHouse taking over Prime Minister @LeeHsienLoong’s Instagram. Your Prime Minister took over our account this morning to give you an inside look as he arrived in the U.S., and now we’re taking over his account to show you how we’re preparing for the 13th State Dinner or Official Visit of the Obama Administration.
Inside the White House kitchen, our chefs are getting ready to give Prime Minister Lee and Mrs. Lee a dinner that celebrates summer food from across the United States. The prepared meal includes blue crab from Maryland, Asian yams grown in California, and even heirloom tomatoes from our own @WHKitchenGarden here on the South Lawn.
—@WhiteHouse