EAST EUROPEAN COMMUNIST COUNTRIES (Setting up of Embassies or Trade Representations)

Mr Chow Chiok Hock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government intends to set up embassies or trade representations in East European Communist Countries.

Mr S. Rajaratnam: The Member for Ulu Pandan will recall my statement to this House on the 16th and 17th of December last year in which I said that it was our intention first to establish Missions in some ten countries. At that time, I also mentioned that it was our intention to set up other Missions when we can find the personnel and the money or when political and trade considerations justify their being set up earlier.

It is in such context that the establishment of Embassies or trade representations in East European countries will have to be viewed.

However, I would like to assure the Member for Ulu Pandan that promotion of trade with as many countries as possible regardless of ideological differences, whether they are in the East or in the West, still remains a major objective of our foreign policy. These intentions have been embodied in the trade agreements recently concluded with the U.S.S.R., Bulgaria and Poland, which provide for the establishment of Singapore trade representations in those countries in the future.