US VP Kamala Harris holds talks with Singapore’s PM Lee on first day of Asia trip

Harris was presented with an orchid that was named in her honour and spoke with the president before starting a series of bilateral meetings with PM Lee

The US vice-president arrived in Singapore on Sunday at the start of a seven-day visit to the region, which will also include a trip to Vietnam

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US Vice-President Kamala Harris pictured with orchids named after her at the Istana in Singapore. Photo: AP

Published: 7:44am, 23 Aug 2021Updated: 2:49pm, 23 Aug 2021

US Vice-President Kamala Harris on Monday met Singapore’s president and prime minister to kick off a visit to Southeast Asia focused on strengthening ties with key allies in the region, a task complicated by the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Harris participated in a welcome ceremony outside the Istana, the presidential palace, where she held her hand over her heart while a marching band played the Star Spangled Banner. She then walked around the courtyard, reviewing the band, accompanied by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Lee then showed her a species of an orchid that was named in her honour, and Harris participated in a brief courtesy call with President Halimah Yacob, before heading into a series of bilateral meetings with the prime minister.

The orchid Papilionanda Kamala Harris was named in the US Vice-President’s honour. Photo: AP

Harris and Lee later announced new initiatives including a high-level supply chain dialogue and agreements on cybersecurity and climate, all aimed at bolstering the economic and security relationship.

Harris and Lee held a restricted meeting to talk candidly, a senior official said, before they opened up the meeting to their staff members.