PM Narendra Modi to visit Singapore today on three-day visit

After visiting Indonesia and Malaysia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was set to visit Singapore - the final destination of his three-nation trip in Southeast Asia over a period of five days (May 29-June 2) - on Thursday, May 31. This will be Modi's third visit to the city-state after his two visits in 2015 and this trip is taking place at the invitation of Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Modi and Lee will attend a business programme on innovation and entrepreneurship at the Marina Sands Bay Convention Centre later on Thursday, according to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

Modi will also meet Singaporean President Halimah Yacob besides attending an official dinner hosted by Lee. Former Singaporean prime minister and currently emeritus senior minister Goh Chok Tong will also meet Modi on Saturday, June 2, the MFA statement informed.

Modi will attend an official welcome ceremony on Friday, June 1, and will visit Singapore Botanic Gardens where an orchid is set to be named in his honour, the MFA said.

The biggest draw of Modi's third Singapore visit will be, however, his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue - the first to be given by an Indian prime minister.

"Prime Minister Modi's visit reflects the close relations between Singapore and India and will build on the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership signed in 2015," the MFA statement said.